Chapter 23

Election of 1946
 The officials of the Laurel Government were forcibly taken by the Japanese.
 Manuel Roxas was one of those who were taken to Baguio and MacArthur ordered his men to liberate
Roxas. Once liberated, Roxas proceeded to maneuver for his election to the Presidency.
 Roxas elected as President of the Senate. As the head, Roxas was harassed Osmena by either sitting on or
disapproving President Osmena’s nominations to important positions in the government.
 Roxas was not in good health, and this fact led him to believe that now was the time to become president.
 Nacionalista Party was split in two factions: Osmena faction and Roxas faction.
 Roxas faction was named the Liberal Wing of the Nacionalista Party. With Roxas’ Victory, it became the
Liberal Party.
 2 months after election, on July 4, 1946, Philippine independence was proclaimed and Roxas became the
1st President of the Republic.

Policies of the Roxas Administration

 Elected amidst ruins and hunger, Roxas, in his inaugural address as the last President of the
Commonwealth, laid down the bases of his policy: the rebuilding of the “economy that was broken
and destroyed by war,” the industrialization of the country, the encouragement of Filipinos “to
participate in all the operations of our new economy at all its levels”, devotion “to the ideals of an
indivisible peace and an indivisible world,” close cooperation with the United States, and the
restoration of the “role of law and government as the arbiter of right among the people.”

Guerrilla Amnesty
 On September 7, 1946, Roxas proclaimed a general amnesty of those guerrillas who killed and
murdered in pursuance of the resistance movement. However, those who kidnapped, murdered, and
otherwise confiscated property not in pursuance of the objectives of the guerrilla movement were not
included in the amnesty.

The Treaty of General Relations

 After the independence ceremonies, Philippines and United States entered into a treaty of general
relations.
 In accordance with this treaty, the US withdrew and surrendered “all rights of possession, supervision,
jurisdiction, control or sovereignty” over the Philippines, except such bases as the US would need for
the mutual protection of the US and the Philippines.

The Plebiscite of 1947

 The election of 1946 resulted not only in the return to power of the pre-war lords of Philippine economy,
but also, as a reaction against such a comeback, in the election of six Democratic Alliance men, headed
by Luis Taruc of Pampanga, to Congress. They are against collaborationists in the government and against
giving the Americans parity rights in the exploitation of Philippine natural resources.

Death Came for Roxas

 On April 15, 1948, Roxas delivered a major speech on the loyalty of the Philippines to the United States.
 Roxas’ loyalty speech was received with tremendous ovation. He was not feeling well and by evening he
was turning for the worse. At 9:30, while and American army officer was passing by the foot of the
President’s bed, he noticed that Roxas made a sudden gasp. In a few minutes, President Roxas was dead.
2 days later, Vice President Elpidio Quirino took oath of office as President of the Philippines.

Quirino’s Administration
 Quirino announced that his program of government would consist in restoring the faith and
confidence of the people in the government and in the restoration of peace and order.