Which of the following describes Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos?

• A. Democratic reforms and freer media
• B. Expanded executive power, suppression of opposition, censorship, human rights abuses, and eventual People Power
• C. Immediate independence from the United States
• D. Strengthened parliamentary power

Answer: (B)

Martial Law under Marcos is about centralized authority and the suppression of dissent. When it was declared in 1972, the president gained sweeping powers, the opposition was silenced, media outlets were shut or severely censored, and civil liberties were restricted. The regime also involved human rights abuses and the use of force to maintain control, while regular constitutional and legislative processes were weakened or bypassed. Over time, this concentrated power paved the way for rule by decree and a long-lasting grip on the country, culminating in the People Power movement that toppled Marcos in 1986. This combination—expanded executive power, suppression of opposition, censorship, and human rights abuses, followed by a popular uprising—best captures what martial law entailed. It isn’t about democratic reforms or freer media, and independence from the United States occurred long before, while parliamentary power was not strengthened but undermined.