A Dictatorship Story from the Philippines: Who is Ferdinand Marcos?

Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos (1917-1989) Filipino politician, jurist, and dictator.

Marcos was born on September 11, 1917, in the Sarrat settlement in the Ilocos Norte region of the Philippines. At the time of his birth, the Philippines was a territory under US administration. His father, Mariano Marcos, was a lawyer and politician. He would be executed by Filipino guerrillas in 1945 on charges of collaborating with the Japanese invaders.

Raised as a Catholic, Marcos received his primary education in the region and then studied law at the University of the Philippines in Manila. At the same time, he participated in various social activities under the umbrella of the university during these years. He stood out as a successful student.

Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who served as the tenth president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. 

Marcos' name first came to the fore in 1935, with the murder of his political rival Julio Nalandasan, who had defeated his father in the elections. While Nalandasan, who was assassinated at his home one day after the election in which he defeated his father Marcos, died, 3 years after his death, in 1938, Ferdinand Marcos was taken into custody. While many members of the Marcos family were accused in the investigation, Ferdinand Marcos was accused of being the one who pulled the trigger. He received shooting training at university. Although the Marcos family was found guilty, they were acquitted in 1940 after several attempts.

Marcos' actions during the Second World War also became a matter of debate.

Marcos, who joined the US army after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, was taken prisoner by the Japanese in the spring of 1942 and was released a few months later. The US military states that Marcos rejoined the US Army in December 1944. Although Marcos tells various stories about these years and states that he fought against the Japanese, it is stated that his father was released due to his cooperation with the Japanese and he joined forces with the Japanese forces.

Following the Japanese defeat, Marcos began serving as a jurist in the new administration. He then entered politics and was elected to the House of Representatives from Ilocos Norte for three terms between 1949 and 1959.

He then joined the Liberal wing that split from the Nacionalista Party. This group would later take the name of the Liberal Party. Over time, Marcos rose within the party assumed senior positions, and entered the Senate in 1959. He served as the leader of the Liberal Party between 1961 and 1964, and as the president of the Senate between 1963 and 1965.

Presidency and Muslim massacre

Marcos, who was a candidate for the Philippine presidential elections in 1965, won the elections and took office in December 1965. He made investments in the country with foreign funds and established close relations with the Philippine army. At the same time, he gained the support of the USA by taking a pro-US stance in the Vietnam War during this period.

With the Jabida Massacre during this period, Marcos' crimes against the Muslim population began. In the massacre on March 18, 1968, Muslim soldiers were killed for allegedly attempting to revolt. This massacre would be the most important event that started the resistance process of Muslims in Moro in the south of the Philippines. During this period, Marcos was accused of trying to establish a barracks state.

Marcos, who was a candidate again in 1969, won these elections as well. Although the elections were accused of being shady, Marcos took office. The fact that Marcos spent 50 million dollars during the election process caused a crisis in the country's budget. Marcos found the solution by borrowing from the IMF.

However, during this period, there was a social crisis in the country. As opposition groups formed, various leftist groups would also adopt a more radical stance against the Marcos administration. Marcos responded by using military force against all groups. Marcos' second term would be remembered with massacres against his opponents.

At a time when demonstrations against him were continuing, in August 1971, Marcos issued a decree giving him extraordinary powers and launched comprehensive attacks against his opponents. These attacks were met with opposition attacks in Manila. On September 23, 1972, Marcos declared martial law.

Dictatorship period

While reactions to the obstruction of civil rights increased day by day, rumors of coups and assassinations also began to increase day by day.

During the martial law that would continue until 1981, Marcos forces arrested many civilians, many were tortured and killed.

Marcos, who established a harsh regime with the army and the ruling elite, was keeping approximately 60 thousand people in prison for political reasons in 1977. Despite this, US support for him continued. In 1981, US Vice President George H W Bush praised Marcos for his "commitment to democratic principles". Marcos also sought to establish close relations with China. Despite his crackdown on communists, Marcos managed to get closer to China.

He declared himself Prime Minister in 1978. A new presidential election was held in 1981, 6 months after the lifting of martial law. In this election, which was the first presidential election after 12 years, Marcos was elected once again, while most of the opponents boycotted the election. During this period, Marcos continued conflicts with various groups. However, the country's economy had reached the point of complete collapse and social discontent had peaked. Marcos faced several accusations, including the 1983 murder of opposition leader Benigno Aquino.

In 1985, some deputies filed charges of abuse of power on the grounds that he used US aid for himself. While the reactions and accusations against Marcos increased rapidly, various health problems would further weaken Marcos' power.

US abandonment, overthrow, and flight from the country

Although he had a kidney transplant in 1983, his health condition did not improve, and he had a second transplant in 1984.

By 1984, the United States began to turn its back on Marcos. As reactions against him peaked, Marcos called for early elections in 1985. Although the opposition against him was stronger than ever, the Electoral Commission declared Marcos to have won the election. Opposition commissions argued that Marcos lost but that there was fraud.

The reactions to the election results were the last straw. Serious violence occurred as people took to the streets. As the political and social crisis grew, on February 25, 1986, opposition presidential candidates held oath ceremonies and declared themselves president. Supporters of Aquino's wife, one of the opposition leaders, raided government institutions in Manila and state channels were seized.

Following the events, Marcos had to flee the country. At noon on February 25, 1986, Marcos left the Philippines after consultations with US officials. He and his family were evacuated to Hawaii on US planes. He smuggled with him more than $700 million in cash and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of precious metals and jewels. He also had a significant amount of money in his bank accounts. In Hawaii, the Marcos family lived a luxurious life, although in exile. Marcos' plans to return to the Philippines failed.

Dictator Marcos died on September 28, 1989, in Honolulu, Hawaii's capital city.

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, one of Marcos' sons, is a candidate in the 2022 Philippine presidential elections.

Violations against Muslims

Marcos was remembered for many attacks and violations against Muslims during his dictatorship and presidency.

It is stated that thousands of Moro Muslims were massacred during the rule of Marcos, who massacred many Muslims in Moro before his dictatorship, and this number exceeded 10 thousand.

Among these massacres, there are many massacres such as the Jabida Massacre, Tacub Massacre, Manila Massacre, burning of Jolo, Malisbong Massacre, Pata Island Massacre, and Tong Umapoy Massacre.

The period of the Marcos government was recorded as a period in which Muslims in the Philippines faced serious human rights violations, and violations such as torture, massacres, and rape frequently occurred.