<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article may be unbalanced towards certain viewpoints . Please improve the article by adding information on neglected viewpoints, or discuss the issue on the talk page . (December 2016) </Td> </Tr> <P> Martial law in the Philippines (Filipino: Batas Militar sa Pilipinas) refers to several intermittent periods in Philippine history wherein the Philippine head of state (such as the President) places an area under the control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and its predecessor bodies . Martial law is declared either when there is near - violent civil unrest or in cases of major natural disasters, however most countries use a different legal construct like "state of emergency". </P> <P> Typically, the imposition of martial law accompanies curfews, the suspension of civil law, civil rights, habeas corpus, and the application or extension of military law or military justice to civilians . Civilians defying martial law may be subjected to military tribunals (court - martial). </P> <P> Hostilities that began the Philippine Revolution of 1896 started on the evening of 21 August 1896, when hundreds of rebels attacked the Civil Guard garrison in Pasig, just as hundreds of other rebels personally led by Andrés Bonifacio were massing in San Juan del Monte, which they attacked hours later on the 30th . Bonifacio planned to capture El Polvorin, the San Jose del Monte powder magazine along with El Depósito, a water station supplying Manila . The defending Spaniards were outnumbered, but fought the rebels until reinforcements arrived . Once reinforced, the Spaniards drove Bonifacio's forces back with heavy casualties . Elsewhere rebels attacked Mandaluyong, Sampaloc, Santa Ana, Pandacan, Pateros, Marikina, and Caloocan, as well as Makati and Taguig . Balintawak in Caloocan saw intense fighting . Rebel troops tended to gravitate towards fighting in San Juan del Monte and Sampaloc . South of Manila, a thousand - strong rebel force attacked a small force of civil guards . In Pandacan Katipuneros attacked the parish church, making the parish priest run for his life . </P>

What does martial law mean in the philippines