SEP 21, 1972: President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines begins authoritarian rule by declaring martial law (Proclamation 1081) which will last for 9yrs until Jan 1981 but carry on de facto with another 5yrs of power until he was ousted in the EDSA People Power Revolution in Feb 1986. Marcos first became President in Dec 1965 where he presided over a growing economy & infrastructure development that initially made him popular. When extreme poverty, inflation, a debt crisis and social unrest followed, his rule quickly changed to that of a dictatorship and his installation of military rule came particularly after terrorist bombings in Manila. Along with being publicly supported by US President Richard Nixon, the country saw a violent crackdown on radical opposition, suppression of the media, the targeting of Muslims & Communists, the restriction of the Chinese language in schools, and alarming human rights abuses. Marcos had taken his first totalitarian steps in Aug 1971 when he suspended habeas corpus and from his iron-fisted rule, his administration next ratified martial law in Jul 1973 in a corrupt referendum. With the population suffering, the swelling discontent resulted in a resurgence of opposition in the parliamentary elections in May 1984 which had exposed his financial looting & false WWII records. In Aug 1985, impeachment proceedings against him fell flat after being accused of allegedly diverting American aid for personal use and misusing funds (specifically in the exhibition of pornography at the National Film Center contrary to Filipino customs & traditions). As a result of the embarassments and trying to re-assert legitimacy, Marcos called a snap election that was riddled with fraud & political turmoil which led to his downfall and saw Corazon Aquino become the Philippines' first female President who would establish a new Constitution in Mar 1986. Ironically, in the last months of his office, Russia had stepped up relations with the Philippines and was the only country to ever officially congratulate him as a victorious head of state. He and his wealthy family fled to Hawaii in exile and brought with them an estimated over $1 billion and millions more in precious stones, with a belief that in 21yrs his family had stolen $5-10 billion. He died in Sep 1989 and his wife Imelda was allowed to return to the Philippines in Nov 1991. She was still hated (even being snubbed by The Beatles in Jul 1966) for being just as corrupt as her husband and was especially notorious for her previous lavish lifestyle of extravagant parties, shopping sprees & her ostentatious shoe collection when she was the First Lady. She quite boldly returned to politics and was elected 4 times to the House of Representatives and failed twice to win the Presidency.
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