Martial Law can be the solution

Posted on August 15, 2006 - Filed Under Punch Forum |

Edwin
15 August 2006


I remember coming to Manila before the imposition of martial law. Pasay City was a city thriving on prostitution with one of the most corrupt police department in the nation. Restaurants and cocktail lounges had tables where you were supposed to check in your fire arms. If a foreign visitor was robbed and the criminal was caught, justice was never done because the criminal could arrange to schedule the trial until after the victim had left the country. As a frequent visitor to the Philippines in those days, I found it more expedient to give cartons of cigarettes and Johnny Walker Black the customs officers rather than spending all day at the custom office to pay a couple of dollars for duty. Then there was “beautiful” Luneta which had become a shanty town. Corruption was rife throughout Manila and the government. A hand full of autocrats controlled the faith of the country.

Then martial law was implemented. As terrible as it may sound, to an outsider like myself, martial law was the only way to rein in the widespread corruption.

Under the rule of President Marcos, the improvement of the country’s infrastructure was started. Bridges were built, and a modernization of the nation’s highway system was undertaken. Much of the overt corruption was eliminated. A land reform act was enacted. Pasay City was cleaned up and the beautification of Luneta became one of Mrs. Marcos’ accomplishments. A foreign victim received justice in that if the perpetrator was caught he was scheduled for trial the next day. Much of this ended with the end of the Marcos rule. Land reform? To this day not one hectare of land owned by Aquino or her in-laws went to any of the farmers who worked the land. The freeway from Manila going north ended at Dau, Pampanga at the time of the “People’s Power” revolt. Today, several decades later, the freeway still ends at Dau.

Yes, martial law is not the best solution but sometimes it is the only solution. Example: Japan under the rule of MacArthur, Taiwan under the rule of Chang Kai Chek and Singapore under a totalitarian ruler has one of the highest standards of living in Asia. Sometimes it is better to have one crook than a dozen. Oh, yes the final count of the election showed that Marcos won over Aquino.

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