GROUP 4: The Military in Philippine Politics: Democratization, Governance,

and Security Sector Reform

I.
Civil or civilian the political authorities who
make decisions or implement the components of
these decisions in areas other than defense. In
the Philippines, they include the president,
members of the legislature, the judiciary, and
other agencies with oversight powers over the
military.
Civil-military relations the balance of power
between the civilian political authority (roughly,
the government) and military.
Civilian control it means government control
over the armed forces
Civilian-political authority the highest
ranking government official, the president as
commander in chief of the armed forces, in the
Philippine case.
Conflict prevention various measures to avert
or prevent the occurrence of serious
disagreements among groups in society that lead
to violence, especially armed violence.
Good governance the set of principles and
arrangements that promotes transparency,
responsibility, accountability, participation, and
responsiveness in those who hold powers to run
an organization, whether the government,
business or the private sector, or civil-society
organizations.
Military the organ of the state that possesses
the monopoly of the legitimate use of violence.
Military intervention the assumption by the
armed forces of roles and functions that belong
to the civilian political authorities or the civilian
government.

Military professionalism the behavioral

orientation of the military that displays its
characteristics as a professional organization,
namely one that has specialized skills (the
management of violence), whose client is
society and not any particular sector or interest,
and corporateness (cohesion and unity as a body
distinct from other social groups).
Military role the management of the
instruments of violence to defend the state
against external aggression.
Military role expansion the enlargement of
the functions performed by the military as a
result of official policy made by the government
or by the military unilateral extension of its
functions.
Peace building the gamut of measures to
construct peace, especially after armed conflict
has been resolved through the conclusion of a
peace agreement for example.
Politicization the process by which
individuals and groups become responsible to
the possibility of taking over the government
usually as a consequence of exposure to the
failure of government to perform its functions in
society.
Security sector the array of bodies
participating in the exercise of the defense of the
state.
Security sector reform policies and programs
that seek to improve the performance of the
security sector for good governance, conflict
prevention, and peace building.

II.
The Military and Government: A Historical Background

Military - an arm of government authorized to use lethal force, and weapons, to support the
interests of the state and some or all of its citizens.
Government - the system by which a state or community is governed.
Civil Military relations - the relationship between civil society as a whole and the military
organization or organizations established to protect it.

Pre Martial Law Period

Democratic Civilian Control of the Military - doctrine in military and political science that
places ultimate responsibility for a countrys strategic decision-making in the hands of
the civilian political leadership, rather than professional military officers.
Oversight an unintentional failure to notice or do something.
Agrarian based Huk (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon) Anti-Japanese Army soldiers against
the Philippine government.
Counter-insurgency - comprehensive civilian and military efforts taken to simultaneously defeat
and contain insurgency and address its root causes.

Martial Law and dictatorship

Martial Law
Proclamation No. 1081 Marcos signed the Proclamation No. 1081 on the 21st of
September 1972 placing the Philippines under Martial Law. Marcos cited the threats
against the Republic, namely the CPP-NPA, the rightists including the political
opposition, and the separatists. He said that these groups were threats to the integrity and
security of the country.
evening of September 23, 1972 - the formal announcement of the proclamation of
Martial Law

The condition of civil-military relations changed with Martial Law.

Legislature was disbanded the congress was dissolved. Marcos then exercised
legislative power.
Civil and political freedoms were suspended
- Loss of freedom of speech
- Curfew was imposed from 12 midnight to 4 in the morning. (General Order
No.4)
- All public meetings and assemblies including labor strikes were prohibited and a
travel ban was imposed for all Filipinos except those who were immigrating to
other countries. (General Order No. 5)
- The public was also ordered to surrender their firearms. Raids were conducted to
seize weapons from civilians. (General Order No. 6)
2

 Political parties outlawed political parties were banned and politicians was replaced
by military officers
Newspaper and other media outlets closed and then strictly controlled when they
reopened the military closed down all radio, television stations, and newspapers. All
vital utilities and industries such as the Manila Electric Company, the Philippine Long
Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), and the Iligan Integrated Steel Mills in Mindanao
were taken over.
Military became partner of Martial Law and authoritarian rule

The military assumed new functions, such as judicial and administrative sort.
Political functions
Marcos removed the control of the police from the local officials and created a
national police merged with the Philippine Constabulary. Top-ranking officers
serving as executives of local government units and regional peace and order
development councils.
-

Because of the dissolution of congress and the banning of political parties,

politicians were replaced by military officers as dispensers of political patronage.
Economic functions included managing investment corporations under military
control, which were established as a way of reward to the militarys support for Martial
Law
It also operated arms production and development firms as part of the militarys
Self-Reliant Defense Program (SRDP).
The SRDP or Self-Reliant Defense Posture Program envisioned the
attainment of local production capability for war material while
conserving foreign exchange. The underlying concept of the program
was the development of a local defense industry that can support the
material requirements of the AFP.

New and expanded functions

Military officers were earlier prepared through a revision of the military career
development pattern.
- Advanced or postgraduate academic training from civilian educational
institutions was required for promotion to higher ranks.
The militarys role as a partner in Martial Law and the authoritarian rule was enhanced further by
its key role in combating the twin armed conflicts that surged following regime change in 1972.
- A Maoist Communist insurgency under the newly established Communist Party
of the Philippines (CPP), its armed wing (the New Peoples Army) and its
National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF); and the ethnic separatism led by
the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Maoism political ideology which is derived from the teachings of the
Chinese political leader Mao Zedong.

DAGDAG KAALAMAN
3

 Students, especially in universities, became increasingly radicalized. The Kabataang

Makabayan was formed earlier on November 30, 1963. The students opposed the
dominance of capitalists, the subservient or submissive policies of the Philippines to the
United States, and the lack of concern of the government to the hardships of people.
On December 26, 1968, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was formed by
Jose Ma. Sison, a writer and activist.
There was a resurgence of Huk activities in Central Luzon.
On March 29, 1969, a small fraction of the HMB (Hukbong Mapalaya ng bayan) led by
Bernabe Buscayno, also known as Kumander Dante, broke away and formed the New
Peoples Army.
This small group had multiplied because its propaganda was appealing to students and
peasants.
Meanwhile, in Mindanao and Sulu, the perception of Moros of being marginalized and
dispossessed of their land and heritage sowed the seed of separatism.
In 1969, Domocao Alonto and Rashid Lucman formed Ansar el Islam whixh was
followed by the formation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) by Nur
Misuari in June 1969.

The combined effects of these political and military developments on governance were seen in
the destruction of democratic political institutions, decline in military professionalism and
cohesion (military factionalism rose), and the personalization of civilian authority in the person of
Marcos.
Marcos centralized all the armed components of the government under his control as commander
in chief of the armed forces.
Military factionalism provided opportunities for civilian politicians to establish their own
networks of patronage and to build lasting ties with individual officers.
When democracy was restored, these factors contributed to the rise of the phenomenon of a
fragile democracy.
Military found it difficult in adjusting to the requirements of the democratic system
restored by Corazon Aquino.

People Power and the restoration of Democracy

Ouster - dismissal or expulsion from a position.

AFP - (Armed Forces of the Philippines) a volunteer force, composed of the Philippine
Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force.
PNP (Philippine National Police) civilian national police force of the Philippines.
Coup Attempts - also known as a coup, a putsch, or an overthrow, is the sudden and illegal
seizure of a government, usually instigated by a small group of the existing state establishment to
depose the established government and replace it with a new ruling body.

III.
4

The Persistence of the Role of the Military

in Philippine Politics
First

Sec. 3, Art. II. Civilian authority is, at

all times, supreme over the military.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines
is the protector of the people and the
State. Its goal is to secure the
sovereignty of the State and the
integrity of the national territory.

It can be traced to the 1987 Constitution.

Though it restored the principles of the
supremacy of civilian authority over the
military at all times and civilian control of the
military, separated the police and the PC from
the AFP, among other arrangements favorable
to reducing the political role of the AFP, it
also added another role for the AFP as
protector of the people and the state The
framers of the new constitution included this
provision to reduce the armed services
violation of human rights perceived as
common during martial law This rationale has
unfortunately been lost on coup plotters,
among whom were the RAM leaders and
Marcos loyalist officers that launched a series
of unsuccessful coup attempts in the 1980s as
it has since been lost on their civilian coconspirators and supporters in and out of the
government. Public opinion polls indicated a
decline in the popularity rating of sitting
presidents coincided with the launch of coup
attempts in the 1980s. Such decline in public
support was also preceded by an increase in
oil prices, rising unemployment or similar
bread-and-butter issues that affect the general
population.

The causes of coup attempts in the past have

persisted. The Davide Commission that
investigated the failed December 1989 coup
found a mix of causes, including unaddressed
military grievances, objection to the inclusion
of left-wing or anti-military officials of
Aquino Administration.
Third
The personalization of civilian control under
Marcos made it difficult to transfer such
power to the next president, especially
because Aquino was the wife of the strongest
political opposition leader who was
assassinated while under military custody who
visited her husband in military prisons under
strict and humiliating conditions from 1972
until his Boston sojourn.
There was a deficit in trust among the military
for her capacity to transcend the tragedy of her
past where military played a key role. The
inclusion of left-leaning members of her
official family did not help allay military
distrust and suspicion for her government.
Fourth
Coup a political phenomenon
God Save the Queen plot (1989 coup
attempt) Led by Colonel Gregorio Honasan,
General Edgardo Abenina, and retired General
Jose Ma. Zumel. They almost seized the
presidential palace

Also known as Christmas Coup

The biggest and bloodiest coup
attempt against the government of the
Philippine President Corazon Aquino
There were six plots to overthrow
Philippine President Corazon Aquino

Second
5

Ferdinand V. Ramos pursued a policy of

unconditional amnesty for the rebel soldiers.

Alagappa The militarys role in politics is

likely to remain

Gregorio Honasan became a senator on

FVRs administration.

AFP the political role of AFP is unlikely to

wane

Ramos administration no coup attempts

Seventh

Oakwood Mutiny July 27, 2003; led by

Army Captain Gerardo Gambala and LtSG.
Antonio Trillanes IV. Compose of 321 armed
soldiers who call themselves Bagong
Katipuneros

Oplan HACKLE February 24, 2006; led by

the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Plot includes a mass jailbreak of

Magdalo mutineers.
HACKLE = hammer and sickle

Eighth

Fifth
Power Helped install in power

Appointment of Military officers a

consequence of their critical role in political
succession

Dependence by the government on the

military for political survival has made
the military a political actor of
importance.
Coup
attempts
and
other
destabilization movements to topple a
sitting president only leads to
governments reliance on militarys
support for political survival.
People Power is used to remove a
sitting president from office.

Strengthen the militarys political

influence
Political role will remain in the
foreseeable future

Sixth
Military primary force in countering New
Peoples Army (NPA), Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF), and Abu Sayyaf
Group (ASG)
PH the second front against terrorism

Retired military and various civilian

groups including those from the
political opposition continue to court
military support behind their personal
and political agenda.
Ties forged with private persons
during graduate school to promote
Political Partisanship in the armed
forces.

Ninth

The governments inability to punish

those
who
violate
the
law
criminalizing rebellion, coup d etat,
mutiny and similar acts emboldens
those who have been implicated in
previous destabilization attempts
against the government.

IV.
Building Democratic Civil-Military Relations
Constitutional and Legal Reforms
Legal reform or Law reform refers to examining existing laws and advocating and implementing changes
in a legal system, usually with the aim of enhancing justice and efficiency.
Since 1986 there have been a lot of reforms that are being adopted to restore democratic civil-military
relationship and to reduce the role of the military, including in the politics.
So, here are the different reforms,
1

The adoption and implementation of a new constitution that restated the principles of the civilian
control and the supremacy of civilian authority at all times.
At normative situation the civilian has the power over the military which is really
preferable than if the military has control over the civilian.

2
3

The separation of the police from the AFP

The confinement of the military role to external defense, while internal security and peace and
order would be with the police
The AFP and the police should really be separated because they have different
responsibilities and roles, for the AFP, they are in charge of the external defense which
consists of Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air force while on the other
hand the police is the one responsible in maintaining peace and order and other internal
security issues and situations.
The restoration of civilian oversight institutions in Congress with power over appropriations
promotion and appointments, investigative power in aid of legislation.
Here, the people can make an institution that would keep an eye on different anomalies
that is happening in the government, they would also have the power over appropriations
and even appointments that would initially go through the commission of appointments.
Restoration of free press
The first order of Marcos on the first day of the Martial Law was the immediate closure
of all news organizations and on the next day, he ordered the arrest and interrogation of
all publishers, editors, journalist and broadcasters that are identified to be critical against
the government, also, all new publications were suspended and television and radio went
off air, he prohibited the dissemination of the information that would undermine the
government not just locally but also internationally
The establishment of the Office of the Ethical Standards and Professional Accountability
This would address to military corruption and unethical/unprofessional conduct

7. Grant of series of increases in military pay and benefits

8. Restoration of normal election that foreclose the appointment of active and retired military officers
to a political posts (during Martial Law years)
Despite of the coup attempts there had been a general trend toward the restoration of democratic civilian
control.
Security Sector Reform: 2001-2006
CONCEPT:

It is a standard change in security sector governance.

It is a primary aspect of the overall process of democratization.
The most important intention of security sector transformation is to make the security sector
accountable to democratic processes and ensure armed forces to promote democratic norms and
principles.

CHANGES ARROYO MADE:

A substantial increase in the basic pay of soldier, to be paid in three installments from 20022004.
The military soldiers are asking for their salary to increase immediately, not in a slow-paced
system that Arroyo gave them.
The creation of the Presidential Task Force for the Military reform that would address lack of
transparency and accountability in the military procurement and financial systems.
This not led to the main purpose intended which the Magdalo group suspected to lead to the
graft and corruption.
The establishment of the office of the Undersecretary of Internal Control at the Department of
National Defense, one of the many department built by Arroyo under her government.
A program (Joint Defense Assessment or JDA) in which the Philippines and the US jointly
undertook an assessment of the countrys view of its security challenges in the next five year
period.
BEFORE AND AFTER President Arroyo expanded the membership of the NSC pursuant to
Executive Order No. 34 dated 17 September 2001. The NSC now includes the following
members

Before (In 1987)

The President
The Vice-President
Executive Secretary
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Secretary of National Defense
Secretary of Justice
Secretary of Labor and Employment
Secretary of Local Government
National Security Director
The AFP Chief of Staff

After
The President as Chairman
The Vice President
The Senate President
The Speaker of the House of Representatives
The Senate President Pro-Tempore
Deputy Speakers of the House for Luzon,
Visayas & Mindanao
The Majority Floor Leader of the Senate
The Majority Floor Leader of the House
The Minority Floor Leader of the Senate
The Minority Floor Leader of the House
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations

The Chairman, Senate Committee on National

Defense and Security
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Public
Order and Illegal Drugs
The Chairman, House Committee on Foreign
Relations
The Chairman, House Committee on National
Defense and Security
The Chairman, House Committee on Public
Order and Safety
The Executive Secretary
The National Security Director General as
Secretary
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs
The Secretary of National Defense
The Secretary of Justice
The Secretary of Interior and Local Government
The Secretary of Labor and Employment
Presidential Spokesperson
Head, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office
Presidential Legal Counsel
The Past Presidents of the Philippines

EFFECT OF ARROYOS SECURITY SECTOR REFORM (2001-2006)

ARROYO

CHANGES IN
NATIONAL

RESULT: AFFECTS DIFFERENT

SECTOR

Failure of the government to deliver basic services especially in the rural areas;
Graft and corruption;
Too much politics and grandstanding of politicians, and unfair criticism, even
humiliation, at the hands of politicians;
Bureaucratic efficiency, which exacerbates the alienation and poverty of the
people;
Poor and non-responsive military leadership which is manifested by a tayo-tayo
system [clique system], factionalism, and inadequate financial and logistical
support for the soldier in the field;
Lack of genuine reconciliation;
Uneven treatment of human rights violations committed by the military and the
CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army);
Absence of good government;
Softness on the CPP-NPA and left-leaning elements; and,

IV.
What else must be done?
There are a lot of things to be done in order to have a good governance in the security sector.
1. The reduction in the role of coercion in governance, meaning the military should limit its
actions from intimidating or threatening the other party or the Moros. They should not
use arms in resolving their issues against each other. They should try to resolve it in a
peaceful manner, like the issues in communism and the never ending issue of the
separation of the Moros.
2. The civilian political leaders should refrain from depending on the military for their
political survival. Having private armies will give the members of the armed forces more
powers and influence than what they should only have. This will give them the chance to
be more politically inclined.
3. The Militarys role in the election should only be to maintain peace and order in a certain
area, and not to be associated with a certain political candidate or a particular party. In
fact the military should be non-partisan, meaning they are not allowed to support a
certain candidate or a certain political party.
4. The civilian political leaders should refrain from depending on the military for their
political survival. Having private armies will give the members of the armed forces more
powers and influence than what they should only have. This will give them the chance to
be more politically inclined.
5. The Militarys role in the election should only be to maintain peace and order in a certain
area, and not to be associated with a certain political candidate or a particular party. In
fact the military should be non-partisan, meaning they are not allowed to support a
certain candidate or a certain political party.