Martial Law Falls on Sept. 23 Not Sept. 21

Davao Del Norte (PIA) – – September 23, 2015 marks the 43rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines.

According to the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, Martial Law was declared on September 23, 1972 contrary to the popular notion that it was on September 21.

The Gazette based its post to the research of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO), who produced papers containing timeline leading up to the Martial Law and even up to the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship, which were taken from the point of view of the people who lived through the events that had unfolded.

The actual date was based on the full implementation of the martial law, which is after the nationwide address of President Marcos at 7:15PM of September 23.

Although Proclamation No. 1801 was dated September 21, historians have different views as to the actual date of its signing.

David Rosenberg writing in the Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars (“The End of the Freest Press in the World,” Vol. 5, 1973) and Raymond Bonner in his book Waltzing with the Dictator emphasized that Marcos signed the proclamation in the morning of September 23.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Post in a series of articles called “The Aquino Papers” chronicled that the President signed it on September 17 postdated to September 21.

The full text of the briefer and comprehensive timeline can be viewed at the websites of the Official Gazette and the Presidential Museum and Library. (PIA11, Michael Uy)