POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

THE PRE-SPANISH GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES:

 Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, the Philippines was composed of settlements or villages, each called barangay,
named after balangay, a Malayan word meaning “boat”.
 Every barangay was virtually a state, for it possessed the four basic elements of statehood. At times, however,
some barangays joined together as “confederations” mainly for the purpose of mutual protection against common
enemies.
DATU - Each barangay was ruled by a chief called Datu in some places, and Rajah, Sultan or Hadji in others. Hewas its chief
executive, law giver, chief judge, and military head. In the performance of his duties, however, he was assisted usually by
a council of elders (maginoos) which served as his advertisers. In form, the barangay was monarchy with the wealth, or
physical prowess.

Social Classes In The Barangay:

 The people of the barangay were divided into four classes, namely: the nobility (maharlika), to which the datu
belonged, the freemen (timawa), the serfs (aliping namamhay), and the slaves (aliping sagigilid).
Early Laws:
 The early Filipinos had both written and unwritten laws. The written laws were promulgated by the datus. The
two known written codes in the pre-Spanish era are the “Maragtas Code” which was said to have been written
about 1250 A.D by Datu Sumakwel of Panay, and the Kalantiaw Code written in 1433 A.D by Datu Kalantiaw, also
of Panay

Comparison with Other Ancient Governments:

 It can be said that the laws of the barangay were generally fair. The system of government, although defective
was not so bad considering the conditions in other lands in the age during which it flourished.

DURING THE SPANISH PERIOD: ITS GOVERNMENT AND RULER

SPAIN’S TITLE TO THE PHILIPPINES:
 It was based on the discovery made by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, consummated by its conquest by Miguel
Lopez de Legaspi 45 years later and long possession for almost four centuries, until it was terminated in 1898,
when by the Treaty of Paris, the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the United States.
SPANISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT:
 From 1565 to 1821, the Philippines was indirectly governed by the King of Spain through Mexico. From 1821
when Mexico obtained her independence from Spain, to 1898, the Philippines was ruled directly from Spain.
 From 1863, the military of Ultramar (colonies) exercised general powers of supervision over Philippine affairs.
Three times during the Spanish period (1810-1813, 1820-1823, and 1836-1837), the Philippines was given
representation in the Spanish cortes, the legislative body of Spain.
GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINE UNITARY:
 The government which Spain established in the Philippines was centralized in structure and national in scope. The
barangays were consolidated into towns each headed by a GOBERNADORCILLO, popularly called capitan, and the
towns into provinces, each headed by a governor who represented the Governor General in the province.
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL:
 The power of the government were actually exercised by the Governor-General who resided in Manila. He was
“Governor-General” “Captain-General”, and “vice-royal patron.” As Governor-General, he had executive,
administrative, legislative and judicial powers.
 As Captain-General, he was Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces in the Philippines. As the vice-royal
patron, he exercised certain religious powers. Because of these broad powers, it has been said that the Governor
General enjoyed more powers than the King of Spain himself. This was justified, however, because of the distance
of the Philippines from Spain.
 In the administration of the Philippines, the Governor-General was assisted by many boards and officers,
particularly the Board of Authorities and the Council of Administration.

PHILIPPINES REVOLUTIONARY ERA: GOVERNMENT AND REPUBLICS OF THAT PERIOD

THE KATIPUNAN GOVERNMENT:
 The Katipunan was secret society that precipitated our glorious revolution on August 26, 1896. It was organized
by Andres Bonifacio. The central government of the Katipunan was vested in a Supreme Council (Kataastaasang
Sanggunian). In each province there was a Provincial Council (Sangguniang Balangay) and in each town, a Popular
Council (Sanggunian Bayan).
 The Judicial Power was exercised by a Judicial Council (Sangguniang Hukuman). The Katipunan was replaced by
another government whose officials headed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo as President, were elected in the Tejeros
Convention held on March 22, 1897.
THE BIAK NA BATO REPUBLIC:
 On November 1, 1897, a republic was established by Gen. Aguinaldo in Biak-na-Bato (now San Miguel de
Mayumo, Bulacan). It had a constitution which was to take effect for two years only.
 It declared that the aim of the revolutions was the “separation of the Philippines from the Spanish monarchy
and their formation into an independence state.” The Biak-na-Bato Republic lasted up to December 15, 1897,
with conclusion of the “Pact of Biak-na-Bato.”

THE DICTATORIAL GOVERNMENT:

 Following the outbreak of the Spanish-American war on April 25, 1898, Gen. Aguinaldo in view of the chaotic
conditions in the country, established the Dictatorial Government on May 24, 1898.
 The most important achievements of the Dictatorial Government were the Proclamation of the Philippine
Independence at Kawit on June 12, 1898 and the reorganization of local governments.

THE REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT:
 In the administration of the Philippines, the Governor-General was assisted by many boards and officers,
particularly the Board of Authorities and the Council of Administration.
 On June 23, 1898, Gen. Aguinaldo established the Revolutionary Government replacing the Dictatorial
Government.
 The decree-making such change stated that the aims of the new government were “struggle for the
independence of the Philippines, until all nations including Spain will expressly recognize it,” and “to prepare the
country for the establishment of a real Republic.”

GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES DURING THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION

Philippines' Revolutionary Era: Governments and Republics of that Period
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT:
 The American military rule in the Philippines began on April 4, 1898, the day after the capture of Manila. The
existence of was gave the President of the United States the power to establish a Military Government in the
Philippines, as Commander-in-Chief of all Armed Forces of the United States.
 His authority was delegated to the military governor who exercised as long as the war lasted, all powers of
government – executive, legislative and judicial. The first American Military Governor was General Wesley
Merritt, the second was General Elwell E. Otis, and the third and last was Major General Arthur MacArthur.

THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT:

 Pursuant to the so-called Spooner Amendment (on the army appropriation act passed in the US Congress on
March 3, 1901) which ended the military regime in the Philippines, the Civil Government was inaugurated in
Manila on July 4, 1901.
 The Civil Governor whose positions was created on October 29, 1901. The Civil Governor, also exercised
legislative powers. He remained as President of the Philippine Comission, the sole law-making body of the
government from 1901 to 1907.
 From 1907 to 1916, the Philippine Commission acted as the upper house of the legislative branch with the
Philippine Assembly serving as the lower house. With the passage of the Spooner Law in 1916, these two bodies
gave way to the Philippine Legislature. The Philippines was represented in the United States by two Resident
Commissioners who were elected the Philippine Legislature.

COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES:

 The next stage in the political development of the Filipinos was the establishment of the Commonwealth
Government of the Philippines pursuant to an act of the United States Congress on March 24, 1934, commonly
known was the Tydings-McDuffie Law.
 Among other things, the law provided for a transition period of ten years during which the Philippines
Commonwealth would operate and at the expiration of said period on July 4, 1896, the independence of the
Philippines would be proclaimed and established.
 The new government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, deemed successor to the Government of the
Philippine Islands, was inaugurated on November 15, 1935, following the first national election under the 1935
Constitution held on September 12, 1935, with Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña, as President and Vice-
President, respectively.

Governments of the Philippines during the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines

THE JAPANESE MILITARY ADMINISTRATION:
 It was established in Manila on January 3, 1942, one day after its occupation. Under a proclamation issued by
the Japanese High Command, the sovereignty of United States over the Philippines was declared terminated.
THE PHILIPPINE EXECUTIVE COMMISSION:
 A Civil government known as the Philippine Executive Commission composed of Filipinos with Jorge B. Vargas as
Chairman, was organized by the military forces of occupation. The commission exercised both the executive and
legislative powers.
 The laws enacted were, however, subject to the approval of the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Forces. The
Judiciary continued in the same form as it was under the Commonwealth. However, it functioned without the
independence which it had traditionally enjoyed.

JAPANESE-SPONSORED REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES:

 On October 14, 1943, the so-called Japanese sponsored Republic of the Philippines was inaugurated with Jose P.
Laurel as President. It was the same character as the Philippine Executive Commission.
 Like the latter, the ultimate source of its authority was the Japanese military authority and government, on August
17, 1945. President Laurel proclaimed the dissolution of the Republic.