talking to an old PI soldier

zamboanga · 23rd August 2005, 09:05 AM

When then President Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972 one of the laws he promulgated was Presidential Decree No. 9, which, among others, states:

"3. It is unlawful to carry outside of residence any bladed, pointed or blunt weapon such as "fanknife," "spear," "dagger," "bolo," "balisong," "barong,"
"kris," or club, except where such articles are being used as necessary tools or implements to earn a livelihood and while being sued in connection therewith; and any person found guilty thereof shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from five to ten years as a Military Court/Tribunal/Commission may direct."

This law and martial law in general brought about a dearth in the blade industry in southern philippines at that time. It was not that the kris and barongs became passe after 1970. Bladesmiths simply stopped making them.

When the mid-70s came, Filipino ingenuity made the screw driver a favorite weapon for self-defense - as it comes with a handy excuse for carrying it outside one's residence.

PD no. 9 was later revised over time but was not competely repealed.

23rd August 2005, 09:05 AM	#13
zamboanga Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: zamboanga city, philippines Posts: 132	When then President Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972 one of the laws he promulgated was Presidential Decree No. 9, which, among others, states: "3. It is unlawful to carry outside of residence any bladed, pointed or blunt weapon such as "fanknife," "spear," "dagger," "bolo," "balisong," "barong," "kris," or club, except where such articles are being used as necessary tools or implements to earn a livelihood and while being sued in connection therewith; and any person found guilty thereof shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from five to ten years as a Military Court/Tribunal/Commission may direct." This law and martial law in general brought about a dearth in the blade industry in southern philippines at that time. It was not that the kris and barongs became passe after 1970. Bladesmiths simply stopped making them. When the mid-70s came, Filipino ingenuity made the screw driver a favorite weapon for self-defense - as it comes with a handy excuse for carrying it outside one's residence. PD no. 9 was later revised over time but was not competely repealed.