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Behind the Scenes in the
by
Keith W. Stump
This strategically positioned country- an important friend of the United
States-has entered a new phase in its modern history.
Where does the Philippines stand now-and what lies ahead?
[
T
January 16, Presi–
dent Ferdinand E .
Marcos lifted eight
years of
mart~al
law
in the Philippines.
The reaction was predict–
able.
At home and abroad, critics of
the Marcos government lost no
time in charging that nothing had
really changed. The Western news
media echoed these sentiments.
What is really going on inside
the Philippines? Where is the
country headed? And what does
Bible prophecy say about the
future of the Southeast Asían
region?
No Choice
The Western press has largely
failed to report the t rue state of
affairs within this strategically
located country of 48 million
people. lt is time to set the record
straight!
The recent history of the Phil–
ippines revolves aro und one
man- charismatic, intellectual,
63-year-old Ferdinand Marcos.
lf rhetoric could kili, Mr. Mar–
cos would have been in his grave
years ago.
Journalists around the globe
write about him with a venom in
their pens the like of which has
rarely been seen even in reports
May 1981
of genocide in Cambodia or mur–
der and oppression in Uganda.
A much-decorated veteran of
World War 11, President Marcos
has been president of the Philip–
pines for more than 15 years. At
the time of his election in 1966,
the Philippines was in pol itica1
turmoil. The country held the
dubious distinction of being "the
world's most anarchic democra–
cy"- suffering from política! pa–
ralysis, a breakdown of law and
order and economic stagnation.
Politicians and superrich fami –
lies maintained their own prívate
armies. Local election results
were invariably fixed. Intimida–
t ion of voters was commonplace.
Votes could be purchased for a
few pesos.
To many Filipinos,
it
was a
time of despair, confusion and
terror. The country stood on the
brink of complete anarchy.
The situation reached the point
where even sorne opposition leaders
urged Mr. Marcos to impose mar–
tiallaw to prevent total chaos.
President Marcos had little
choice. In September, 1972, he
declared martial law, citing com–
munist subversion and a Moslem
uprising in the southern Phil ip–
pines. This was done pursuant to a
provision in the country's constitu–
tion permitting martial law in the
event of "imminent rebellion."
In the words of Mr. Marcos
himself, "Martial law was pro–
claimed to protect our democratic
way of life."
At the same time, Mr. Marcos
proclaimed the "New Society"–
the name he gave to the set of
Jong-term economic, social and
polí t ica! changes he hoped to
bring about in the Philippines.
(See "The New Society" in the
September, 1980,
Plain Truth,
U.S. edition.)
Great Strldea
Martial law turned out to be just
what the doctor ordered.
Even Mr. Marcos' opponents
concede that he effectively guid–
ed the country safely through a
period of dangerous anarchy.
Though assailed by sorne for his
"tough methods," no one denies
that Presi dent Marcos h as
brought comparative stability and
a measure of economic progress
to the Philippines.
·
Under martial law, Mr. Mar–
cos placed his emphasis not mere–
ly on defending the status quo,
but on social and economic
reform. Martial law was used as
an instrument for t ransforming
society.
This was done with the sanc–
tion of the population at large.
Many observers found it difficult
to believe that a large segment of
the population backed the presi–
dent's actions. The explanation is
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