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Japanese-sponsored Constitution

When the events were gearing towards Philippine


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).

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