FACT-CHECK: Facebook page falsely claims Martial Law not used as pretext for Marcos to stay in power

CLAIM: The late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., declared martial law in response to widespread anarchy and not to stay in power.

RATING: FALSE

On the 51st anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, The “17th President” Facebook page posted a reel denying without basis that the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law to remain in power. 

There is substantial evidence to conclude that Marcos utilized Martial Law not only to address insurgency but also to prolong his rule.

The 1935 Constitution limited presidents to a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms. 

Marcos was elected in 1965 and reelected in 1969, but he was ineligible to run again in 1973. Through Martial Law, he effectively canceled the 1973 presidential elections. 

He then called for a constitutional convention to replace the 1935 Constitution and replace it with the 1973 Constitution shifted the form of government from a presidential system with a bicameral legislature to a unicameral form of government.

During Martial Law, Marcos had absolute control over government decisions, with no democratic oversight. He assumed all key roles in the state, simultaneously serving as the de facto head of the executive, legislature, judiciary, and armed forces.

Marcos lifted Martial Law on paper in January 1981. Six months later, the first presidential election was held in 12 years. Marcos was elected to another term as president.

Marcos was finally overthrown by the peaceful 1986 Revolution, which ended his 21-year rule as president.

 The page, which has more than 18,000 Facebook followers, has already been fact-checked by the PressOnePH before for posting other false and misleading content. Roselyn Dapiton

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Roselyn Dapiton is a Journalism student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and an intern for PressOnePH. This piece was created under the supervision of PressOnePH’s editors.