Proclamation No. 1081
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Proclamation No. 1081 was Philippine dictator and President Ferdinand E. Marcos' declaration of the State of Martial Law covering the entire Republic of the Philippines on September 21, 1972. It was announced to the public two days later.
Under the pretext of an unattempted assassination of former Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and an ensuing Communist insurgency, Marcos ruled by military powers through Martial Law, manipulated the political arena in the Philippines, changed the constitution in the subsequent year, made himself both President (Head of State) and Prime Minister (Head of Government), and controlled the unicameral legislative branch called the "Batasang Pambansa". All these allowed Marcos to remain in power and to plunder.
The proclamation was signed on September 17, 1972, but was postdated four days later because of Marcos' superstitions and numerology beliefs. It is officially thought to have been signed on September 21, 1972. Marcos formally announced the proclamation two days after on the 23rd on live television broadcast.
Martial law was lifted by Marcos on January 17, 1981.