The Philippines in 1980: The Gathering Storm

Abstract

A HOST OF FORCES, some violent, others in themselves trivial but in ensemble potentially disruptive, continued in 1980 to threaten the fortress of Philippine martial law. The cracks in the fortress widened as urban terrorism struck Manila, opposition groups began both to unite and enlarge their base, the economy deteriorated, and establishment institutions such as the World Bank reported that the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos had eroded and was increasingly precarious. Benigno Aquino, former senator and leading dissidentin-exile, warned President Marcos of terrible gathering storm that may well turn the Philippines into the next flash point in Southeast Asia. President Marcos moved resolutely and with great agility to counter the forces against him. He retained his enormous influence over every facet of Philippine political life by using his powers over the media, his capacity to mobilize influential supporters and coopt his opposition, and his skill in carrying out surprise moves. President Marcos kept his opponents off-balance through continuous, often contradictory assertions about normalization. At the end of the year he announced that martial law would end in January 1981. Elections for a new parliament would follow in 1984. Marcos had made similar assertions throughout the eight-year period of martial law but always with conditions-namely, peace and order in Mindanao, stability throughout the nation, and a strong economy. The December announcement was made unc…