NINOY AQUINO's memorable speech (3/9) in Los Angeles (2-15-1981)

Summary

The transcript recounts the political maneuvers of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, detailing his attempts to extend his term beyond the constitutional limit of eight years. It describes how Marcos called a Constitutional Convention in 1970 to change the government from a presidential to a parliamentary system, allowing him to become Prime Minister. The plan was thwarted by an expose of vote-buying, leading to the 'Rama Resolution' which barred incumbent presidents from seeking re-election. Marcos then declared martial law in 1972, arresting opposition leaders and implementing a new constitution without a public vote. The Supreme Court later questioned its validity but upheld it. Marcos continued to consolidate power, amending the constitution to make himself president for life and seeking public mandate for his rule.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Philippines has a constitutional term limit of eight years for any president, a rule that predates the United States' similar restriction.
• 🏛 In 1972, President Marcos was nearing the end of his term and sought to change the constitution to extend his presidency.
• 🗳️ The Constitutional Convention was called in 1970, leading to a shift in the government structure from a presidential to a parliamentary system, which Marcos hoped would allow him to stay in power.
• 💡 Eduardo Cojuangco exposed corruption within the Constitutional Convention, revealing vote-buying to support a parliamentary system that would benefit Marcos.
• 🚨 The expose led to public shock and subsequent actions by the National Bureau of Investigation, which attempted to discredit Cojuangco by finding money in his home.
• 📜 Napoleon Rama introduced a resolution that no incumbent president or spouse could seek office, effectively blocking Marcos from running again.
• 🛑 Marcos declared martial law on September 23, suspending civil liberties and arresting opposition leaders, including those from the Senate and Constitutional Convention.
• 📊 The new constitution was signed under duress, without a public referendum, leading to legal challenges and a Supreme Court decision that it was not validly ratified.
• 🏛️ Marcos continued to consolidate power, amending the constitution to allow himself to dissolve parliament and legislate independently, effectively creating a dual legislative system.
• 🎭 Despite lifting martial law, Marcos sought to change the constitution again to gain a direct mandate from the people for an eight-year term, which was not provided for in the constitution.
• 🌍 Marcos proposed a new governmental model, shifting from a British parliamentary system to a French model with a powerful president and an appointed prime minister.

Q & A

What is the significance of the eight-year term limit for the presidency in the Philippines as mentioned in the script?

The eight-year term limit is significant because it is a constitutional law in the Philippines that prevents any president from staying in office for more than two consecutive terms, ensuring a democratic rotation of power and preventing the concentration of authority.

Why did President Marcos call for a Constitutional Convention in 1970?

President Marcos called for a Constitutional Convention in 1970 to change the form of government from a presidential system to a parliamentary system, which would allow him to bypass the term limit and potentially stay in power indefinitely as Prime Minister.

What was the shocking revelation made by Eduardo Kino on January 2, 1972?

Eduardo Kino, a retired ambassador, revealed that Marcos was bribing members of the Constitutional Convention with envelopes of money to vote for a parliamentary form of government, which would enable him to extend his term beyond the constitutional limit.

What was the outcome of the exposure of Marcos' bribery by Eduardo Kino?

The exposure shocked the nation, and in response, a resolution was filed by Napoleon Ram that no incumbent president or their spouse could seek office, effectively preventing Marcos from running for a third term.

Why did Marcos declare martial law on September 23, 1972?

Marcos declared martial law to consolidate power and suppress opposition after his plan to change the constitution and extend his term was thwarted by the resolution passed in the Constitutional Convention.

What was the Habana case, and what did the Supreme Court decide regarding the new constitution?

The Habana case was a legal challenge brought before the Supreme Court by a gentleman named Habana, questioning the legality of the new constitution. The Supreme Court ruled that the constitution was not validly ratified according to the 1935 Constitution or even the new constitution's own provisions, but it added that there was nothing to stop its implementation.

What changes did Marcos make to the 1973 Constitution in 1976?

In 1976, Marcos amended the 1973 Constitution to give himself more power, allowing him to dissolve parliament, legislate alongside it, and remain as president for life, effectively making him an all-powerful leader.

What was the proposed change to the form of government under Marcos' new plan after lifting martial law?

After lifting martial law, Marcos proposed a change to a French model of government, where he would be an all-powerful president with a prime minister appointed by him, moving away from the British parliamentary system.

Why did Marcos want to amend the Constitution to increase the age requirement for the presidency?

Marcos wanted to increase the age requirement for the presidency to 50 years old to prevent his potential opponents, including those who were previously eligible at 40, from running against him.

What was the significance of the statement 'I will take anybody including Aino' in the script?

The statement 'I will take anybody including Aino' was a challenge by Marcos, indicating his confidence in facing any opposition, even from Aino, a known critic, and the mention of 'underage' was a reference to the increased age requirement for presidential candidates.