Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship explained

The dictatorship of 10th Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s and 1980s is historically remembered for its record of human rights abuses,[1] [2] particularly targeting political opponents, student activists,[3] journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against his dictatorship. Based on the documentation of Amnesty International, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, and similar human rights monitoring entities,[4] historians believe that the Marcos dictatorship was marked by 3,257 known extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented tortures, 737 'disappeared', and 70,000 incarcerations.[5] [6]

Some 2,520 of the 3,257 murder victims were tortured and mutilated before their bodies were dumped in various places for the public to discover - a tactic meant to sow fear among the public,[7] which came to be known as "salvaging".[8] Some victims were also subjected to cannibalism.

"Political detention"

See main article: Political detainees under the Marcos dictatorship. The implementation of Martial Law in September 1972 began with a wave of arrests, targeting anyone who opposed Marcos. This included students, opposition politicians, journalists, academics, and even religious workers, aside from known activists. Those who were captured were referred to as "political detainees," rather than "political prisoners," with the technical definitions of the former being vague enough that the Marcos administration could continue to hold them in detention without having to be charged.[9]

Warrantless arrests

Victims were raided and arrested in their own homes without warrants,[10] and illegally detained without charges or clear information about the status of their case.[11] Arrest, Search and Seizure Orders (ASSO) did not undergo its usual bureaucratic process and at times were merely lists of people to be arrested.[6] Because of the lack of prior investigation, military men could insert names in the list of people to be arrested.[12] [6]

Torture

Torture was instrumental in the Martial Law rule. Young officers, some of them freshly graduated from the military academy, participated in the torture of political dissidents, suspected communists. The ‘top two’ torturers, Col. Rolando Abadilla and Lt. Rodolfo Aguinaldo were allegedly trained by CIA operatives in the United States.[13] [7] Various torture methods had physical, psychological, and sexual natures, many of them meant to degrade the victim. Even dissenters from high-level government officers, such as Sen. Ninoy Aquino and Sen. Ramon Mitra were detained and tortured with solitary confinement. Torture methods were used by the military to threaten, interrogate, or simply hurt detainees,[7] as most of them released without being charged of anything.[6] Many of the ‘salvaged’ bodies dumped in public view bore intense torture marks, instilling fear about what happens to those who oppose the Marcos regime.[14]

Notable murders

See also: Religious sector resistance against the Marcos dictatorship.

Fr. Zacarias Agatep. Fr. Agatep was a seminarian in Northern Luzon. He served as the chaplain of the Federation of Free Farmers, helping organize cooperatives, raising awareness about land reform and campaigned for the reduction of land rent. He took up the cause of the farmers and began to support the fight against the dictatorial regime. He was arrested on charges of subversion and illegal possession of firearms, and later released due to Pope John Paul II's visit. In 1982, he was murdered, claiming he died during an encounter with constabulary soldiers.[15] Zoilo Francisco. In August 1979, Francisco was arrested in Brgy. Doña Anecita, Pambujan, Northern Samar. He was decapitated by elements of the 60th PC Battalion, and his stomach slashed open.Liliosa Hilao. She was a student activist from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. She was 21 years old when she was arrested and tortured to death in 1973. She was the first detainee to be killed during Martial Law.[23] Ishmael Quimpo Jr. ‘Jun’ Quimpo was involved in student demonstrations when he was a student in San Beda High School. He was 14 when he joined he Kabataang Makabayan chapter in his school, and participated in protests. He later enrolled at the University of the Philippines Diliman and participated in community work in squatters areas. He was arrested and detained for 10 days in 1976, for participating in a protest with 5000 informal settlers. He later went underground in the rural areas. He was shot in the back in 1981 in Nueva Ecija.Luis Manuel Mijares. ‘Boyet’ Mijares was the son of Primitivo Mijares, the former aide, defector and whistleblower of the Marcos dictatorship. He also wrote the Conjugal Dictatorship, which revealed the misdeeds of the Marcos family and associates. His son Boyet was kidnapped and later salvaged and dumped in public, with visible signs of torture. His eyeballs were protruding, chest stabbed and perforated, his head bashed, and his hands, feet and genitals mangled.[6]

Massacres

Aside from the murder of particular people who opposed the Marcos dictatorship, groups of people were also murdered for collectively mobilizing against the regime. Despite the lifting of Martial Law in 1981, there were five recorded massacres all over the Philippines in the same year alone. Between 1981 and 1982, and there have been 14 recorded massacres, totaling 134 fatalities.[33]

Some civilian massacres include the following.

, and 30 were wounded.[37]

Massacres targeted at the Moro people

The Moro people, belonging to the 14 or so indigenous communities in Mindanao whose populations are mostly Muslim, were specifically targeted by Marcos's forces. The Marcos regime had started to kill hundreds of Moros even before the imposition of Martial Law in 1972.[38] Thousands of Moro Muslims were killed during the Marcos regime, prompting them to form insurgent groups and separatist movements such as the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which became more radical with time due to atrocities against Muslims.[39]

According to the Marjanie Salic Macasalong's study The Liberation Movements in Mindanao: Root Causes and Prospects for Peace, the number of Moro victims killed by the Army, Philippine Constabulary, and the Ilaga (a notorious

government-sanctioned[40] terrorist cult known for cannibalism and land grabbing that served as members of the CHDF) reached as high as 10,000 lives.[41]

Some of these massacres include:

Military units involved

Although various human rights abuses were attributed units throughout the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the Marcos dictatorship, the units which became particularly notorious for regularly violating human rights abuses were the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) under B.Gen Ignacio Paz; the Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group (MISG) under the command of Col. Rolando Abadilla,[46] and the 5th Constabulary Security Unit (5CSU) under the command of Lt. Miguel Aure. An officer of the 5CSU, 1Lt Rodolfo Aguinaldo, eventually became one of the most notorious torturers of the Marcos regime.

The 5CSU and MISG were parts of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) under then-Major General Fidel V. Ramos, a distant relative of Marcos. Both Paz and Ramos answered to Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, who was also a Marcos relative. Aside from human rights abuses, these units also hounded media entities,[47] [48] corporate management,[49] and opposition groups[50] with threats, intimidation, and violence.

The PC and ISAFP were also aided in these activities by the Presidential Security Unit and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), headed by Gen. Fabian Ver.[51]

The irregular paramilitary forces known as the Civilian Home Defense Forces (CHDF) were supervised and deployed by the heads of the local government in the Philippines such as provincial governors, city and municipal mayors. These paramilitary forces became notorious for various human rights abuses.[52]

International pressure and knowledge of abuses by Marcos

The international community eventually got word of these human rights violations and applied pressure to the Marcos dictatorship to end them. In 1975, Marcos aide and chief propagandist Primitivo Mijares defected from the Marcos dictatorship and revealed in front of US lawmakers that torture was routinely practiced within the Marcos regime.[53] Mijares' admission attracted international criticism, particularly from Amnesty International and Washington. Amnesty International's first report about the Philippines in December 1975 revealed the “systematic and severe torture” handled by the Fifth Constabulary Security Unit (5CSU).[7] Amnesty International found convincing evidence of widespread torture among prisoners, enabled by Marcos's suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and the absence of judicial oversight.[54] Evidence reveals that not only was he aware of tortures and murders enacted by his military and police force, but that he was condoned and at times arranged for it.[6] This caused tensions between the United States and the Philippines, pressuring Marcos to admit human rights violations during his regime.[7]

Marcos initially denied knowledge of human rights violations.[6] In 1974, he proclaimed in a televised address that “No one, but no one was tortured”.[55] But he eventually confessed at the 1977 World Peace through law Conference in Manila that “there have been, to our lasting regret, a number of violations of the rights of detainees”.[56]

Transitional justice

Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10368 was passed by Congress in 2013 to provide reparations and recognition to victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime.[57] It allocated PHP10 billion from Marcos's ill-gotten wealth to distribute to human rights victims. It also set up a Human Rights Violations Claims Board to facilitate distribution.[58]

R.A. 10368 also created the Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission "to establish, restore, preserve and conserve a Memorial Museum, Library, Archive and Compendium in honor of the human rights violation victims (HRVVs) during the Marcos regime".[59]

Marcos family denial

Ferdinand Marcos has denied all allegations of his involvement in any human rights extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests which were made towards human right violations which occurred during his presidency.[60]

On the stories of human rights abuses, Bongbong Marcos describes them as "self-serving statements by politicians, self-aggrandizement narratives, pompous declarations, and political posturing and propaganda."[61] [62]

His older sister, Imee, denies that their family is responsible for the human rights abuses that occurred during her family's regime and called them political accusations. According to her, "If what is demanded is an admission of guilt, I don't think that's possible. Why would we admit to something we did not do?"[63]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alfred McCoy, Dark Legacy: Human rights under the Marcos regime. September 20, 1999. Ateneo de Manila University.
  2. Book: State and society in the Philippines. Abinales. P.N.. Amoroso. Donna J.. 2005. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 978-0742510234. Lanham, MD. 57452454.
  3. News: Gone too soon: 7 youth leaders killed under Martial Law. Rappler. June 15, 2018. en.
  4. Web site: 3,257: Fact checking the Marcos killings, 1975-1985 - The Manila Times Online. www.manilatimes.net. en-US. June 15, 2018. April 12, 2016.
  5. Web site: Report of an AI Mission to the Republic of the Philippines 1975.
  6. Book: Robles, Raissa. Marcos Martial Law: Never Again. Filipinos for a Better Philippines. 2016.
  7. Book: McCoy, Alfred W.. Policing America's empire : the United States, the Philippines, and the rise of the surveillance state. 2009. University of Wisconsin Press. 9780299234133. Madison, Wis.. 550642875.
  8. News: 'Salvage' victims. Cagurangan. Mar-Vic. The Guam Daily Post. June 24, 2018. en.
  9. Web site: Ricky Lee, martial law detainee, on historical revisionism: 'Para akong binubura' . September 16, 2021 .
  10. News:
    1. NeverAgain: Martial Law stories young people need to hear
    . Rappler. June 15, 2018. en.
  11. News: Victims recall horrors of Marcos' martial law. ABS-CBN News. June 15, 2018. en-US.
  12. Web site: – What accused torturer, Colonel Eduardo Matillano told me about torture during Martial Law. Robles. Raissa. www.raissarobles.com. August 31, 2016 . en-US. June 15, 2018.
  13. Book: Finley, Laura L.. The torture and prisoner abuse debate. 2008. Greenwood Press. 978-0313342936. Westport, Conn.. 607693458.
  14. News: To young Filipinos who never knew martial law and dictatorship. Pimentel. Benjamin. June 18, 2018. en.
  15. Chua. Michael Charleston. TORTYUR: Human Rights Violations During The Marcos Regime. en.
  16. Book: Hill, Gerald N.. Aquino assassination : the true story and analysis of the assassination of Philippine Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr.. 1983. Hilltop Pub. Co. Hill, Kathleen, 1941-, Psinakis, Steve.. 978-0912133041. Sonoma, Calif.. 11043005.
  17. Book: McLaren, Peter. Che Guevara, Paulo Freire, and the Pedagogy of Revolution. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 2000. 978-0742573024.
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  21. News: What Went Before: Third Italian priest killed. Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 18, 2018. en.
  22. News: Fernandez, Resteta A. – Bantayog ng mga Bayani. October 17, 2015. Bantayog ng mga Bayani. June 18, 2018. en-US.
  23. News: Liliosa Hilao: First Martial Law detainee killed. Kate. Pedroso. Marielle. Medina. June 18, 2018. en.
  24. News: Hilario, Antonio "Tonyhil" M. – Bantayog ng mga Bayani. October 21, 2015. Bantayog ng mga Bayani. June 18, 2018. en-US.
  25. Web site: BusinessWorld Cowards and SOBs. www.bworldonline.com. en-US. June 18, 2018.
  26. News: Javier, Evelio Bellaflor – Bantayog ng mga Bayani. October 21, 2015. Bantayog ng mga Bayani. June 18, 2018. en-US.
  27. News: Jopson, Edgar Gil "Edjop" Mirasol – Bantayog ng mga Bayani. October 21, 2015. Bantayog ng mga Bayani. June 18, 2018. en-US.
  28. Book: Montiel, Cristina Jayme. Living and dying : in memory of 11 Ateneo de Manila martial law activists. 2007. Ateneo de Manila University Press. 9789715505086. Quezon City. 167549658.
  29. Book: Manapat, Ricardo. Some are smarter than others : the history of Marcos' crony capitalism. 1991. Aletheia Publications. 978-9719128700. New York. 28428684.
  30. News: Valerio, Nilo C. – Bantayog ng mga Bayani. July 8, 2016. Bantayog ng mga Bayani. June 18, 2018. en-US.
  31. Book: Aceves, William J.. The anatomy of torture : a documentary history of Filartiga v. Pena Irala. 2007. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. 9789047431237. Leidon. 567744522.
  32. News: Opinion: Imee Marcos told US court – yes, Archimedes Trajano was tortured and killed but it's none of your business. Robles. Raïssa. ABS-CBN News. June 18, 2018. en-US.
  33. News: Martial law massacres. Doyo. Ma. Ceres P.. Maria Ceres Doyo. June 18, 2018. en.
  34. News: Martial law massacres. Doyo. Ma. Ceres P.. June 19, 2018. en.
  35. Report of an Amnesty International Mission to the Republic of the Philippines, 11 – 28 Nov 1981 . November 28, 1981 . Amnesty International.
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  37. News: Remembering the Escalante massacre. Guanzon-Apalisok. Malou. June 19, 2018. en.
  38. News: Moros recall massacres under Marcos. Maulana. Nash B.. June 19, 2018. en.
  39. News: Muslims, martial law. Tan. Michael L.. June 19, 2018. en.
  40. News: Vera Files Fact Sheet: Palimbang massacre and Marcos' other transgressions against the Bangsamoro. Vera Files. June 19, 2018. en.
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  42. News: OPINION: Before Martial Law, there was the Tacub Massacre. Mawallil. Amir. ABS-CBN News. June 19, 2018. en-US.
  43. News: War, peace and valor. Tan. Michael L.. June 19, 2018. en.
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  47. Rosenberg. David A.. 1974. Civil Liberties and the Mass Media under Martial Law in the Philippines. Pacific Affairs. 47. 4. 472–484. 10.2307/2755948. 2755948.
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  50. News: The Haunting of Martial Law: Records from the Marcos Regime. September 7, 2017. UH School of Law Library. June 18, 2018. en-US.
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  57. Web site: Republic Act No. 10368. February 12, 2022. Lawphil.
  58. Web site: Bueza. Michael. October 25, 2019. What's the latest on cases vs Imelda Marcos, family?. February 12, 2022. Rappler. en-US.
  59. Web site: About the Commission. February 12, 2022. Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission.
  60. Web site: Favila . Aaron . Philippines: Marcos Failing on Rights . www.hrw.org . June 28, 2023 . Human Rights Watch . 5 August 2023.
  61. News: Tan. Kimberly Jane. Martial Law in the eyes of the late strongman Marcos' son. GMA News. September 21, 2012.
  62. News: Quimpo. Susan. Enrile's memoir gives me sleepless nights. GMA News. October 14, 2012.
  63. News: Gonzales . Cathrine . Imee says HR abuses during father's rule are just 'political accusations' . . October 16, 2018.