1981 Philippine presidential election and referendum

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1981 Philippine presidential election
Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg
  1969 June 16, 1981 1986  
Turnout80.9% (Increase2.svg1.3pp)
  Ferdinand Marcos (cropped).jpg Alejo Santos.png
Candidate Ferdinand Marcos Alejo Santos
Party KBL Nacionalista
Popular vote18,309,3601,716,449
Percentage88.02%8.25%

1981 Philippine presidential election result per province.png
Election result per province. Marcos won in every province, city, and municipality.

President before election

Ferdinand Marcos
KBL

Elected President

Ferdinand Marcos
KBL

June 1981 Philippine referendum
June 16, 1981
Should there be barangay elections right after the presidential elections?
OutcomeProposal carried
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes16,268,52381.09%
Light brown x.svgNo3,793,32218.91%
Valid votes20,061,84591.84%
Invalid or blank votes1,781,9848.16%
Total votes21,843,829100.00%

The 1981 Philippine presidential election and national referendum was held on June 16, 1981. It was the first time an election was held in the Philippines, 12 years after the 1969 Philippine presidential election, the declaration of martial law on September 21, 1972 and under the 1973 constitution. President Ferdinand E. Marcos of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) defeated retired general and World War II veteran Alejo Santos of the Nacionalista Party in a landslide victory. Most opposition parties boycotted the election as a sign of protest over the 1978 election for the Interim Batasang Pambansa (National Assembly), which they condemned as fraudulent. At the same time, a national referendum was held on the question in holding elections for barangay elections in 1982.

Contents

Marcos' 80% margin of victory is the most lopsided Philippine presidential election ever, beating out Manuel L. Quezon's landslide victory of 64% in 1941. Marcos getting 88% of the vote is also the largest in Philippine presidential election history, also beating Quezon's 1941 record of 82%. This is also the most votes received by a person in the Philippines for a single-winner election until 2022 when Sara Duterte won 32 million votes; for multiple-winner elections, it was beaten by Mar Roxas in 2004 with 19 million votes. This was also the presidential election with the most number of candidates, with 13, although nine candidates with the fewest votes collectively just got 0.13% of the vote.

Marcos would have served another six-year term ending in 1987, but it was cut short by the 1986 snap election that eventually resulted in his ouster in the People Power Revolution.

Lifting of martial law

On January 17, 1981, President Marcos announced the lifting of martial law via Proclamation No. 2045; in his address, he also inaugurated the "New Republic." Although martial law has ended, Marcos retained all presidential decrees, legislative powers and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. The lifting of martial law was speculated to be due to the election of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, with whom Marcos wanted to have close relationship with and who was to be inaugurated only three days later, and the arrival of Pope John Paul II in the country. In February, the Interim Batasang Pambansa (parliament) passed a constitutional amendment that changed the parliamentary system of government to a semi-presidential modeled on that of France. The electorate approved the amendment in a plebiscite held in April. Marcos then called for a presidential election to be scheduled in June. [1]

Campaign

The opposition, as early as April, had decided to boycott the election. The United Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO), the main opposition umbrella group, wanted to clean the voters' list, a revamping of the Commission on Elections, a campaign to be held nationwide and that UNIDO accredited as a minority party. Marcos did not accept the demands which led UNIDO to call for a boycott. This caused for Marcos to be reportedly dismayed as he could not legitimize the election without a viable opposition candidate. [1] UNIDO also refused to participate as Benigno Aquino Jr. (who was in exile in Massachusetts) was not allowed to participate since only people fifty years old or older were allowed to participate (Aquino was 48 years old at the time). [2]

Marcos instructed Nacionalista Party president Jose Roy to find a token candidate to oppose him. The Nacionalista Party was then a moribund political entity because Marcos, who was elected twice before under its banner, had alternately lured and coerced the vast majority its members to his new Kilusang Bagong Lipunan. The Nacionalista Party chose former Defense Secretary and Bulacan governor Alejo Santos as their standard bearer. Santos, who was appointed by Marcos as chairman of the board of the Philippine Veterans Bank, had Francisco Tatad, Marcos' former information minister, as his campaign manager. The other main candidate was Bartolome Cabangbang of the Federal Party, whose platform was for the Philippines to become the 51st state of the United States. [1]

With UNIDO pressing for a boycott, the government issued a statement that abstention was a mortal sin; the Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jaime Sin responded that the people "were free to exercise their moral judgment whether to vote or not." Those who did not vote on the April plebiscite were issued summons to force them to vote. [2]

Results

Presidential election

Marcos won in every province and city canvassed by the Batasang Pambansa. Marcos' vote totals won't be surpassed until 2022, when his son Bongbong won the presidency. Marcos won overwhelmingly, [1] but with people remembering the American colonial era and wanting a change from the martial law conditions, Cabangbang surprisingly got 4% of the vote. [2]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Ferdinand Marcos Kilusang Bagong Lipunan 18,309,36088.02
Alejo Santos Nacionalista Party (Roy wing) [a] 1,716,4498.25
Bartolome Cabangbang Federal Party 749,8453.60
Delfin R. ManapazIndependent6,4990.03
Ursula C. DajaoIndependent4,9550.02
Benito L. ValdezIndependent4,2240.02
Lope B. RimandoIndependent1,9540.01
Lucio A. HinigpitSovereign Citizen Party1,9450.01
Pacifico S. MorelosIndependent1,7400.01
Jose C. IgrobayIndependent1,4210.01
Simeon G. del RosarioIndependent1,2340.01
Salvador Q. EnageIndependent1,1850.01
Florencio Z. TipanoIndependent5920.00
Total20,801,403100.00
Valid votes20,801,40395.23
Invalid/blank votes1,042,4264.77
Total votes21,843,829100.00
Registered voters/turnout26,986,45180.94
Source: Nohlen, Grotz, Hartmann, Hasall and Santos [3]
  1. Santos ran under Jose Roy's wing of the Nacionalista Party, while the rest of the party boycotted the election.
    Popular vote
    Marcos
    88.02%
    Santos
    8.25%
    Others
    3.73%

    Referendum on holding barangay elections

    Like the presidential election, the measure was carried by overwhelming margins, but notably a large majority in Muntinlupa and a smaller majority in Marawi rejected the measure; it was otherwise carried other places canvassed by the Batasang Pambansa.

    Summary

    Do you want to have a barangay election immediately after the presidential election?
    ChoiceVotes %
    Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes16,268,52381.09
    No3,793,32218.91
    Valid votes20,061,84591.84
    Invalid or blank votes1,781,9848.16
    Total votes21,843,829100.00
    Registered voters/turnout26,986,45180.94
    Source: Proclamation No. 2094, s. 1981
    1981 Philippine barangay referendum results (excluding invalid votes)
    Yes
    16,268,523 (81.1%)

    50%

    By province/city

    Province/City Yes%No%Total
    Abra 75,34888.40%9,88911.60%85,237
    Agusan del Norte 71,80383.74%13,94616.26%85,749
    Agusan del Sur 75,72082.04%16,57117.96%92,291
    Aklan 104,43678.24%29,03821.76%133,474
    Albay 209,95882.85%43,45217.15%253,410
    Angeles City 54,05485.70%9,01614.30%63,070
    Antique 113,33371.22%45,79628.78%159,129
    Aurora 27,96174.78%9,42825.22%37,389
    Bacolod City 103,86982.06%22,70817.94%126,577
    Bago 29,83574.49%10,21825.51%40,053
    Baguio 49,44885.40%8,45514.60%57,903
    Bais 15,81981.47%3,59918.53%19,418
    Basilan 45,75877.82%13,04222.18%58,800
    Bataan 115,71785.37%19,82414.63%135,541
    Batanes 3,66087.60%51812.40%4,178
    Batangas 307,99075.73%98,69524.27%406,685
    Batangas City 46,36879.37%12,05220.63%58,420
    Benguet 78,24277.45%22,78722.55%101,029
    Bohol 284,57184.05%53,98415.95%338,555
    Bukidnon 162,05481.27%37,33918.73%199,393
    Bulacan 385,51884.68%69,76615.32%455,284
    Butuan 57,12886.41%8,98313.59%66,111
    Cabanatuan 49,21589.44%5,81010.56%55,025
    Cadiz 51,27185.92%8,40014.08%59,671
    Cagayan 241,41074.10%84,36625.90%325,776
    Cagayan de Oro 79,99284.71%14,43315.29%94,425
    Calbayog 35,52786.16%5,70913.84%41,236
    Caloocan 173,16584.54%31,66015.46%204,825
    Camarines Norte 66,33879.00%17,63221.00%83,970
    Camarines Sur 258,50676.90%77,63223.10%336,138
    Camiguin 21,54887.64%3,03912.36%24,587
    Canlaon 9,33283.66%1,82316.34%11,155
    Capiz 112,71469.95%48,41830.05%161,132
    Catanduanes 61,97385.76%10,28714.24%72,260
    Cavite 181,27664.31%100,60235.69%281,878
    Cavite City 39,33486.58%6,09913.42%45,433
    Cebu 451,19280.68%108,04919.32%559,241
    Cebu City 270,57594.23%16,5535.77%287,128
    Cotabato City 23,47684.27%4,38315.73%27,859
    Dagupan 38,44389.60%4,46410.40%42,907
    Danao 49,35696.26%1,9163.74%51,272
    Dapitan 18,29782.06%3,99917.94%22,296
    Davao City 128,02879.34%33,33520.66%161,363
    Davao del Norte 211,33376.55%64,75423.45%276,087
    Davao del Sur 126,69179.49%32,69620.51%159,387
    Davao Oriental 100,17582.27%21,58417.73%121,759
    Dipolog 20,04071.35%8,04828.65%28,088
    Dumaguete 23,86081.56%5,39518.44%29,255
    Eastern Samar 142,19998.98%1,4591.02%143,658
    General Santos 48,54477.55%14,05222.45%62,596
    Gingoog 26,02583.29%5,22316.71%31,248
    Ifugao 26,40569.69%11,48230.31%37,887
    Iligan City 51,06784.64%9,26415.36%60,331
    Ilocos Norte 155,51589.64%17,98010.36%173,495
    Ilocos Sur 196,97985.92%32,27614.08%229,255
    Iloilo 406,91876.04%128,21323.96%535,131
    Iloilo City 118,39772.28%45,41227.72%163,809
    Iriga City 23,76586.49%3,71113.51%27,476
    Isabela 341,11588.91%42,56911.09%383,684
    Kalinga-Apayao 63,30169.58%27,67330.42%90,974
    La Carlota City 27,26787.84%3,77612.16%31,043
    La Union 230,51684.17%43,34915.83%273,865
    Laguna 227,92878.84%61,18021.16%289,108
    Lanao del Norte 85,85377.32%25,17622.68%111,029
    Lanao del Sur 134,46665.12%72,03934.88%206,505
    Laoag City 35,16090.63%3,6339.37%38,793
    Lapu-Lapu City 38,39484.70%6,93815.30%45,332
    Las Piñas 46,09884.20%8,64915.80%54,747
    Legazpi City 36,15682.61%7,61017.39%43,766
    Leyte 484,53893.11%35,8536.89%520,391
    Lipa City 44,22684.84%7,90015.16%52,126
    Lucena City 37,42783.35%7,47516.65%44,902
    Maguindanao 163,07672.99%60,34227.01%223,418
    Makati 84,15070.23%35,67429.77%119,824
    Malabon 94,27784.71%17,01415.29%111,291
    Mandaluyong 72,82668.39%33,65731.61%106,483
    Mandaue City 43,30085.38%7,41614.62%50,716
    Manila 699,43285.24%121,15814.76%820,590
    Marawi City 11,60046.90%13,13453.10%24,734
    Marikina 74,56986.13%12,00913.87%86,578
    Marinduque 66,40684.57%12,11715.43%78,523
    Masbate 171,99185.36%29,50314.64%201,494
    Misamis Occidental 75,35282.15%16,36917.85%91,721
    Misamis Oriental 124,98783.21%25,22316.79%150,210
    Mountain Province 28,74183.68%5,60616.32%34,347
    Muntinlupa 14,53218.55%63,80581.45%78,337
    Naga City 32,03985.12%5,60214.88%37,641
    Navotas 45,63790.08%5,0279.92%50,664
    Negros Occidental 318,63476.85%96,00823.15%414,642
    Negros Oriental 207,90983.56%40,90816.44%248,817
    North Cotabato 195,22081.38%44,66218.62%239,882
    Northern Samar 110,53184.60%20,11415.40%130,645
    Nueva Ecija 269,07880.77%64,07719.23%333,155
    Nueva Vizcaya 91,96578.84%24,68221.16%116,647
    Occidental Mindoro 52,80485.44%8,99514.56%61,799
    Olongapo City 61,50677.15%18,21722.85%79,723
    Oriental Mindoro 145,22185.92%23,79114.08%169,012
    Ormoc City 48,33098.45%7611.55%49,091
    Oroquieta City 16,18682.10%3,52917.90%19,715
    Ozamiz City 25,35578.45%6,96521.55%32,320
    Pagadian City 22,53880.91%5,31919.09%27,857
    Palawan 82,00383.90%15,73516.10%97,738
    Palayan City 8,18182.11%1,78217.89%9,963
    Pampanga 280,74180.34%68,71419.66%349,455
    Pangasinan 569,88388.90%71,13211.10%641,015
    Parañaque 108,21685.18%18,82514.82%127,041
    Pasay City 116,42877.37%34,06222.63%150,490
    Pasig 85,51084.65%15,50815.35%101,018
    Pateros 16,70481.48%3,79618.52%20,500
    Puerto Princesa City 22,40787.79%3,11512.21%25,522
    Quezon 278,70681.56%62,99618.44%341,702
    Quezon City 468,82173.93%165,34926.07%634,170
    Quirino 30,77279.93%7,72820.07%38,500
    Rizal 198,94588.60%25,59611.40%224,541
    Romblon 62,99385.01%11,10414.99%74,097
    Roxas City 26,08580.90%6,15919.10%32,244
    Samar 98,33482.55%20,79217.45%119,126
    San Carlos City, Negros Occidental 25,41586.75%3,88213.25%29,297
    San Carlos City, Pangasinan 32,42681.56%7,32918.44%39,755
    San Jose City 27,46490.88%2,7569.12%30,220
    San Juan 59,50080.27%14,62119.73%74,121
    San Pablo City 49,87981.98%10,96418.02%60,843
    Silay City 28,47377.17%8,42222.83%36,895
    Siquijor 26,80781.42%6,11818.58%32,925
    Sorsogon 154,60385.27%26,70814.73%181,311
    South Cotabato 147,86072.48%56,14827.52%204,008
    Southern Leyte 145,18997.86%3,1752.14%148,364
    Sultan Kudarat 86,58585.83%14,29014.17%100,875
    Sulu 95,31174.88%31,98025.12%127,291
    Surigao City 28,01587.67%3,94112.33%31,956
    Surigao del Norte 110,18388.29%14,60811.71%124,791
    Surigao del Sur 104,78781.39%23,96718.61%128,754
    Tacloban City 58,94599.01%5900.99%59,535
    Tagaytay City 5,23163.78%2,97036.22%8,201
    Tagbilaran City 15,03476.31%4,66623.69%19,700
    Taguig 45,21486.71%6,93013.29%52,144
    Tangub City 10,43371.00%4,26129.00%14,694
    Tarlac 233,14493.37%16,5486.63%249,692
    Tawi-Tawi 45,61077.01%13,61622.99%59,226
    Toledo City 27,48671.87%10,75928.13%38,245
    Trece Martires City 3,21861.42%2,02138.58%5,239
    Valenzuela 53,33783.95%10,19816.05%63,535
    Zambales 111,47087.07%16,54812.93%128,018
    Zamboanga City 73,89678.86%19,81221.14%93,708
    Zamboanga del Norte 91,49081.79%20,36518.21%111,855
    Zamboanga del Sur 208,75179.81%52,80420.19%261,555
    Total16,268,52381.55%3,793,32218.45%19,886,751
    Source: Commission on Elections [4]

    Aftermath

    Marcos was inaugurated on June 30, 1981, at the Quirino Grandstand, with then-United States Vice President George H. W. Bush in attendance. This is when Bush made the infamous praise for Marcos: "We love your adherence to democratic principles and to the democratic process." [5]

    Barangay elections were indeed held on May 17, 1982.

    On August 21, 1983, Senator Aquino returned from exile in the United States, but was assassinated at Manila International Airport. Growing unrest followed, and Marcos was forced to call the snap election of 1986, where UNIDO and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP–Laban) participated and nominated Aquino's widow Corazon Aquino as their presidential nominee. Marcos claimed victory over Aquino despite reports of massive cheating, but he was removed from power a few hours after his oath-taking on February 25, 1986.

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 Celoza, Albert (1997). Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines: The Political Economy of Authoritarianism. Praeger Publishers. pp. 73–76. ISBN   978-0-275-94137-6.
    2. 1 2 3 Steinberg, David Joel (2000). The Philippines: A Singular and a Plural Place. Westview Press. p. 135. ISBN   978-0-8133-3755-5.
    3. Dieter Nohlen; Florian Grotz; Christof Hartmann; Graham Hassall; Soliman M. Santos.
      Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook: Volume II: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific
      .
    4. Report of the Commission on Elections to the President of the Philippines, the Prime Minister, and the Batasang Pambansa on the Manner the Election of President of the Philippines was Held on June 16, 1981. Manila: Bureau of Print. 1981. pp. 180–195.
    5. Russell, George (February 3, 1986). "A Test for Democracy". TIME. Archived from the original on March 4, 2008.