independence as promised by the USA, the Japanese invasion and occupation bolstered in a surprise. Bataan was surrendered to the Japanese but Quezon along with Osmena fled to America. War ensued, and the Philippine was so devastated that the declaration of its independence, due 15 November 1945 had to be postponed. A day after the bloodies fall of Manila, the Japanese began to establish military authority in areas they had already occupied. On January 3, 1942, Lt. Gen. Masaharu Homma, the commander of the Japanese Imperial Forces in the Philippines, issued a proclamation declaring the US sovereignty over the Philippines had “completely disappeared.” Homma declared martial law under a Japanese military administration. The Japanese authorities invited prominent Filipino leaders to form a new government of the Philippines, but under the supervision and control of Japanese military high command. On January 23, 1942, the Japanese military authorities created the Executive Commission. It was composed of Jorge Vargas as chairman, and six commissioners. Former National Assembly Speaker Jose Yulo was designated as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Japanese advisers, however, were assigned into each departments of the Executive Commission. The Japanese authorities reorganized the local governments. The provincial boards, city and municipal councils were transformed into advisory bodies to the provincial governors and city and municipal mayors who assumed executive and legislative powers. Several cities and provinces were abolished. Manila was expanded to include the neighboring towns and renamed City of Greater Manila. Gen. Homma listed 17 acts punishable by death and other severe punishments under martial law. These, included rebellion, espionage, causing damage on roads, waterways and communications. Stealing arms and ammunitions, murder, robbery, arson, counterfeiting, and aiding a person who had violated martial law. To facilitate their efforts to rally the Filipinos to their side and sway them against the Americans, the Japanese promised independence to the Philippines. This promise was made by Japanese Premier Hideki Tojo on January 21, 1942. To prepare the groundwork for Philippine independence, the Japanese authorities ordered the creation of the Preparatory Commission for Philippine Independence. Jose P. Laurel headed the Commission with Ramon Avancena and Benigno Aquino Sr. as first and second vice chairmen respectively. It was given the task for framing a constitution for an independence Philippine Republic. The Constitution was drafted and signed by members of the Commission on September 4, 1943 and was ratified three days later by the members of the kalibapi (kapisanan sa paglilingkod sa bagong pilipinas). The Japanese sponsored Constitution established a Republic of the Philippines with three branches of government. The executive power was vested in the president of the Philippines. The Unicameral National Assembly exercised legislative powers. The judicial power was vested in the Supreme Court and other inferior courts. The Kalibapi chapters in the provinces and cities chose 54 delegates; one for each of the 46 provinces, and for the 8 chartered cities to the National Assembly (Japanese sponsored legislative). On September 25, 1943, the National Assembly unanimously chose Benigno Aquino Sr. as Speaker and Jose P. Laurel as President of the Republic. On October 14, 1943, for the second time, the independence of the Philippiness was declared and a Philippine Republic was formally inaugurated. Only Japan, her Axis Allies (Italy and Germany), recognized the Philippine “Puppet” Republic. The allied powers and the states at war with the axis continued to recognized the government-in-exile of president Quezon which was based in the US. The New Republic, however, did not mean much to the majority of the Filipinos, especially to the guerilla fighters who continued with their underground resistance. Many remained loyal to the commonwealth as their de-jure government. Post-war Philippine Governments After the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese control in 1944, the Americans restored the Commonwealth Government in the Philippines with Sergio Osmena as President (Quezon died while exile in the US). As provided earlier by the Tydings-Mcduffie Law, the Americans granted Philippine Independence on July 4, 1946. Thus, the Third Republic, re-adopted the 1935 Constitution. Afterwhich, six presidents had administered the government of this Republic (Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Macapagal, and Marcos).