PHILIPPINES: NATIONAL REFERENDUM HELD TO DECIDE LEGALITY OF PRESIDENT MARCOS'S RULE AFTER 4973

Record ID: 645863

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: NATIONAL REFERENDUM HELD TO DECIDE LEGALITY OF PRESIDENT MARCOS'S RULE AFTER 4973
  • Date: 27th July 1973
  • Summary: 1. VS posters by the road side 7 ft 2. Preparation for the rally in open air (4 shots) 16 ft 3. Torch parade and march into grandstand 25 ft 4. MS/CU sign and placards (3 shots) 32 ft 5. Band playing 34 ft 6. Barangay member arrival 37 ft 7. MS placards 40 ft 8. Speech by member 43 ft 9. People shouting (3 shots) 49 ft Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th August 1973 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MANILA
  • Country: Philippines
  • Reuters ID: LVA9WUIKARRFRZEYQB4368A5FC7O
  • Story Text: More than 18 million Filipinos went to the polls today (Friday 27 July) in a referendum expected to give President Ferdinand Marcos a mandate to extend his term of office beyond 1973.

    This is the second time the President has asked the people to decide on one-man rule since he imposed martial law in September last year.

    The biggest rally of the entire pre-referendum campaign was staged earlier this week in Manila.

    Supporters of the government marched by torchlight to Forbes Fark carrying placards supporting the referendum issue of extending the President's term of office. Under the old constitute ion, Mr. Marcos would have been forced to resign on December 31st, when his second four-year term as President runs out.

    The government lifted martial law restrictions this week to allow free debate of the issue. No opposition speakers, however, are reported to have appeared at any of the rallies held throughout the country.

    Government supporters are already predicting an overwhelming vote of confidence in President Marcos and his plans to reform the Philippines.

    Filipinos aged 15 years and above, whether literate or illiterate, are required by law to vote under pain of maximum of six months imprisonment if they abstain.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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