Enrile not apologizing for martial law

Thirty-four years after the declaration of martial law, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile expressed no regret in serving as defense minister of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos whose 20-year dictatorship was marked by excesses and human rights violations.

"I make no grief for the declaration of martial law, I am not apologizing for it," Enrile said.

He explained Marcos made "a constitutionally-authorized act" of placing the entire country under martial law 34 years ago.

"It was a decision of the leadership of the country at that time. The President of the country was invested of that power," Enrile said.

Enrile said Marcos used the 1935 Constitution that allowed the president to impose martial rule if the need arose.

One of the most famous allies of Marcos, Enrile earned the distinction of being the architect of martial law.

He added that "if there were excesses, then those excesses must be addressed with our laws."

On the concerns raised by victims of the martial law years, Enrile said this should be addressed "in accordance of our laws, in accordance with our judicial system, with our criminal justice system."

Enrile justified the declaration of martial law on Sept. 21, 1972 following the reported attack on his convoy along with other threats to national security.

Enrile served as Marcos’ defense minister during the martial law years, which activists claimed were an era of human rights atrocities against hundreds of political opponents and innocent civilians.

"Martial law was proclaimed to address a particular situation in the country at that time, and I think you cannot deny the fact that in the beginning (it) was accepted by the people," Enrile said.

"It (martial law) was operating well, at least from ’72 all the way to ’75 but somehow, along the way, a good beginning sours because of changes in policies, changes in personnel, changes in thinking and changes in direction of the government," he said.

‘The dark past’

On the other hand, one of the graduates of the controversial Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1971, said the declaration of martial law should not be commemorated since it marked "the dark past" of Philippine history.

"There is no reason to commemorate because when martial law was declared, it trampled on our liberty," the officer told The STAR.

In the book, "Closer Than Brothers" by Alfred McCoy, the PMA class of 1971 was described as direct recipients of martial law declaration.

The graduates of PMA Class ’71 became famous as implementors of military rule.

McCoy also said the PMA ’71 graduates also became notorious for their involvement in six coup attempts against President Corazon Aquino in the 1980s.

"We were young lieutenants then. We saw nothing illegal with the imposition of martial law because we implemented it under Marcos, who ruled by decrees some of which are still in effect until now," the officer said.

As then member of the defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC), the officer was part of a group that went after the political opposition and notorious criminals.

The officer said he became an unwilling witness to several underground operations that were commonplace during the "dark days" of the Marcos dictatorship.

"We were young lieutenants, (first) year officers... we were the implementers, we conducted arrests because the PC was utilized in going after people extensively involved in criminal activities and in the arrest of political opposition," the officer said.

Recalling the events during the dictatorship, the officer said he realized that they became victims of circumstance.

He described martial law as a "bad experience" because "you cannot question" your superiors, including Marcos’ military chief, Gen. Fabian Ver.

"During those times, although we knew that there was nothing wrong in the imposition of martial law, we later realized that (some of the things we were doing were) not accordance with the law," the officer said.

"I felt that we were doing the right things as we comply with the issuance of arrest, search (and seizure) orders, also known as ASSO, and we were running after criminals," the officer added.

The turning point came after some of his "mistahs" (batchmates) became involved in the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), a group of soldiers who became disgruntled with Ver’s leadership in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Following the snafu of the 1986 snap elections, the officer said they decided to join the forces that led to the ouster of Marcos and installed Aquino into power.

When asked if he favors the implementation of martial law today, the officer said the current situation does not call for such drastic moves.

"Absolute power will also lead to absolute corruption," he remarked.

But the official claimed there seems to be an "undeclared martial law," citing President Arroyo’s declaration of a state of national emergency last February, among other controversial presidential edicts.

He also cited the spate of killings and disappearances of activists, which increased after Mrs. Arroyo assumed power in January 2001.