21/09/2021
Much has been claimed about what happened during Martial Law. Some of them, however, bear no truth.
On the 49th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, let’s take a look at some of the most common false claims on the two-decade rule, and a look closer at the facts.
1. FALSE: ‘No massacres’ during Martial Law
THE FACTS: There were at least two massacres reported between 1972 and 1981 during Martial Law. Both happened in Mindanao, and both were committed against Muslim communities.
READ: https://rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/false-no-massacres-during-martial-law
2. FALSE: Only one executed, none arrested under Martial Law
THE FACTS: There were more people killed than just legally "executed" under Martial Law. The claim excludes EJKs sanctioned by any legal process, targeting those who opposed the government.
READ: https://rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/false-only-one-executed-none-arrested-criticizing-marcos-martial-law
3. FALSE: Filipinos ‘free to roam, can watch news’ during Martial Law
THE FACTS: Historical records show that personal freedoms and media access were restricted when Martial Law was declared. Access to the news was only through media which were either state-run or crony-controlled.
READ: https://rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/false-filipinos-free-can-watch-news-martial-law
4. FALSE: Philippines was ‘richest country in Asia’ during Marcos years
THE FACTS: PH never became the “richest country in Asia” during the time of Marcos. Looking at data on each country’s GDP and GDP per capita, universal indicators of a nation’s prosperity, PH was never the richest, not even in Southeast Asia.
READ: https://rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/philippines-richest-country-asia-marcos-years
5. FALSE: ‘No proof’ that Marcos couple stole billions from Filipinos
THE FACTS: At least two court cases show that the Marcoses have ill-gotten wealth. In one of these, the Supreme Court forfeited the recovered Marcos assets in favor of the PH government.
READ: https://rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/false-no-proof-ferdinand-imelda-marcos-stole-billions-filipinos
