FRANCISCO S. TATAD
THE strongman Marcos earned the pejorative title of “Dictator” after he placed the country under martial law on September 21, 1972, and one day later issued General Order No. 1 by means of which he assumed all the powers of government. He did so, he said, in order to have the broadest latitude and discretion in dealing with the affairs of the nation, exercise extraordinary powers as Commander-in-Chief so as to restore within the shortest possible time the nation’s stability, safeguard its integrity and security and ensure the tranquillity of its inhabitants, by suppressing lawlessness and all subversive, seditious, rebellious, and insurrectionary activities throughout the land.