Thread by @indiohistorian

#TodayinHistory in 1972, Martial Law in #PH began. TV screens were on static. Long distance calls were severed. Arrests were made from midnight to dawn. From morning to evening, panic ensued. Then at 7:15 pm, Ferdinand Marcos appeared on live TV announcing Martial Law.

THREAD.

A day prior, at arnd 8pm, a staged ambush on Enrile's convoy was set-up to become the pretext for Martial Law. Prior to this, bombings have been staged in diff parts of Metro Manila. After the ambush, the military was deployed at 9pm to begin arrests.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1440618505003405316?s=20

At 12:10 am, the 1st to be arrested was Sen. Ninoy Aquino. He was taken from the Manila Hilton Hotel by a truckload of soldiers/

At 12:30 am, PH Army took over MERALCO.

Sometime bet. 1:00 to 3:00 am, Sen. Jose W. Diokno was arrested at his home in Roxas Blvd, Manila.

At 1:00 am, @ABSCBNNews was taken over by troops led by Army Capt. Rolando Abadilla. The network won’t be on air for the next 14 years.

At 2:30 am, journalist Hernando Abaya was arrested. His daughter tried to call a lawyer, but the military cut off their phone line.

At 3:00 am, Sen. Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo was arrested at his residence, New Manila.

At the same time, the military raided Iglesia ni Cristo's Eagle Broadcasting Network. There were 12 casualties.

At 4:00 am, ConCon delegate Jose Mari Velez, a staunch opposer to Marcos' intrusion in the 1971 Constitutional Convention, was arrested.

At 5:00 am, Philippines Free Press editor-in-chief Teodoro Locsin Sr. was arrested. A few hrs earlier the Free Press printer was confiscated.

Journalists, opposition statesmen, activist leaders, writers, artists, all of whom have expressed dissent vs. the administration, numbering to around 8,000, were rounded up & taken by force to a gym in Camp Crame.

All 292 radio stations, 92 newspapers, and 7 TV stations in #PH were shut down. In the morning, there was agitation & panic, as military men patrolled the streets. TV was all static, except for Channel 9 which showed non-stop cartoon reruns.

In between shows was a text that said “Important announcement later in the day.” Radio had “muzak” music. In the afternoon, rumor came around abt a coup, that the military have taken over Malacañang & had Marcos was under house arrest. Panic ensued as fear set in at ConCon hall.

Ferdinand Marcos appeared on LIVE television: "MY COUNTRYMEN, AS of the 21st of this month, I signed Proclamation No. 1081 placing the entire Philippines under martial law.... The proclamation of martial law is not a military takeover."

Read: subselfie.com/2020/09/19/the…

Marcos' term should have ended in 1973, but ML extended his rule beyond term limit. Under his regime, there were documented 35,000 tortures, 70,000 incarcerations w/out warrant, 3k+ EJKs & forced disappearances. His regime plunged #PH in debt, w/c would only be paid till 2025.

Photos:
- Ferdinand Marcos meets with his generals in a televised recording, undated, Presidential Museum & Library
- Marcos declares Martial law on live television, 23 Sept 1972, PML
- ABS-CBN,1972, from @MrtlLawMuseumPH
- Jose Marie Velez, from @bantayogbayani

For @subselfie.
@jmnualla
@tonitiemsin