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Philippines Civil-Military Relations
The Philippines had an unbroken tradition of civilian control
of the military until martial law was imposed in 1972. Under
Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution, civilian authority is again,
"at all times, supreme over the military." Many military leaders
found this difficult to accept. Under Marcos, they could count on
authorization to take a hard line against communists and Muslim
separatists, on opportunities to run civilian businesses and
industries, and on being consulted on most matters.
Under Aquino, the officers could feel a chill coming from
Malacañang. Aquino retired all "overstaying generals," signed
cease-fires with the communists and the Moro National Liberation
Front, harbored "leftist" advisers in her presidential office,
released political prisoners (including New People's Army founder
Jose M. Sison), and only grudgingly improved military pay. Aquino
also established a Commission on Human Rights to investigate and
publicize instances of military abuse and only later broadened
the commission's mandate to include atrocities committed by the
New People's Army.
Data as of June 1991
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