Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties

The Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties (MCCCL) is an advocacy coalition in the Philippines which was first formed under the leadership of José W. Diokno in 1971, as a response to the suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus in the wake of the Plaza Miranda bombing.

Ferdinand Marcos blamed communists for the bombing, and used it as a reason to suspend the writ of habeas corpus and have the military pick up prominent activists, such as KM's Luzvimindo David and MDP's Gary Olivar.

As recounted by author and University of the Philippines Professor Petronilo Daroy: "The alliance had three basic demands: a) lift the writ of habeas corpus; b) release of political prisoners; and c) resist any plan by the Marcos government to declare martial law.

"[1] The MCCCL's rallies are remembered for their scale, with the biggest one held on September 21, 1972 - just two days before Marcos' announcement of Martial Law - which was attended by as many as 50,000 people at Plaza Miranda.

Diokno would later create the Free Legal Assistance Group or FLAG, the first organization of human rights lawyers, to battle martial law and stop Marcos's nefarious plans.