Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Circumstances the Led to the Declaration of Martial Law -- 2. Confirmation of the Whereas Clauses -- 3. Martial Law should be Judge Collectively -- 4. Duty Placed on the President as Commander-in-Chief -- 5. Constitutionally Mandated to Impose Martial Law when so required -- 6. Weighing the positive and the negative effects of martial law -- 7. They anticipated the consequences of their actions -- 8. Cory Aquino's Mirage of Freedom -- 9. The War that Marcos Fought.

That declaration was the ultimate act of self-defense. Often, such painful process imposed limitations on the lives of the civilians made to adjust to the call of national emergency, and implied a degree of suppression to the activities of those who purposely sought to realize their objective outside the parameters of a peaceful process.