[2][3] The MFP became the most prominent of several US-based Philippine opposition groups, partly because its leaders were already established opposition figures before Marcos' declaration of Martial Law in 1972;[4] and partly because it espoused "moderate" views aimed at the return of the Philippines' pre-Marcos democratic norms, as opposed to the more "progressive" views of other groups such as the Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP) which were further to the left of the political spectrum.
Regardless of the administration, however, US engagement against Marcos' excesses was not possible because US interests included maintaining numerous major military bases in the Philippines, which the US needed in order to project power in Asia.
[6] Drawing on the extensive research he was able to do in Washington DC as a member of the MFP, Gillego was able to reveal that Marcos had faked most of the World War II medals which he had used to build up popularity and support during the 1965 presidential elections.
[1] With the Aquino assassination as a rallying cry, the NAM was able to appeal to a broader constituency as the combination of the Aquino Assassination, the 1983 Economic Nosedive, the expose of corruption by the Marcoses and their cronies, and pressure from human rights advocates and democracy watchdog organizations both internationally and in the Philippines led to the ousting of the Marcoses during the 1986 People Power Revolution.
Other prominent personalities who joined MFP later – mostly after escaping from Marcos' stringent Martial Law Travel ban – were Constitutional Convention delegate Heherson Alvarez, and political family scion Serge Osmena.