Ferdinand Marcos

Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos (1917–1989) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 10th President of the Philippines from December 30, 1965 until February 25, 1986. He was first elected as a Nacionalista, defeating incumbent Diosdado Macapagal, and re-elected in 1969 — becoming the first Philippine president to win a second full term.

On September 21, 1972, Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081, placing the entire country under martial law. He cited communist insurgency by the New People's Army and Muslim secessionist movements in Mindanao as justifications. Martial law allowed him to rule by decree, suspend the writ of habeas corpus, shutter opposition media, and detain political rivals — most prominently Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. A new constitution ratified in 1973 entrenched his powers. Martial law was formally lifted in January 1981, though many emergency powers remained.

Marcos's tenure was marked by ambitious infrastructure projects, heavy foreign borrowing, and the rise of a small group of business allies often termed crony capitalists. His government also faced documented human rights abuses; later Philippine legislation (Republic Act No. 10368, the 2013 Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act) provided reparations to victims of martial-law-era violations.

The assassination of Ninoy Aquino on August 21, 1983 at Manila International Airport galvanized opposition. Marcos called a snap election for February 7, 1986, in which he faced Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino. Official tallies declared Marcos the winner, but tabulation walkouts and allegations of fraud triggered the EDSA People Power Revolution (February 22–25, 1986). Backed by defecting military leaders Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel Ramos, and millions of civilians, the movement forced Marcos to flee to Hawaii, where he died in 1989.

His family later returned to Philippine politics; his son Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. won the presidency in May 2022.