For the Record (1)

December 23, 1980

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the abolition of military tribunals and the transfer of detainees from Army camps to the national jail as he moved further toward dismantling martial-law rule by the end of next month. But he said the lifting of the emergency rule he declared in September 1972 would not mean relaxation of the military's responsibility for maintaining public order. He also made it clear that as president and prime minister he would retain wide powers, including the right to reimpose martial law, although he promised to act only in real emergencies and then only after consultation with legislators and the judiciary.