Controversies

His administration was marred by graft and corruption; moreover, the abuses of the provincial military police contributed to the rise of the left-
wing (Huk) movement in the countryside. His heavy-handed attempts to crush the Huks led to widespread peasant disaffection.

The good record of the Roxas administration was marred by two failures: the failure to curb graft and corruption in the government, as
evidenced by the surplus war property scandal, the Chinese immigration scandal and the school supplies scandal; and the failure to check and
stop the communist Hukbalahap movement.

ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

Although Roxas was successful in his objective to obtain rehabilitation funds from America to repair what has been destroyed in the Philippines,
he was still criticized for his subjective decisions concerning policies implemented in the country.

One criticism in Roxas’ administration is his camaraderie with the Americans. He was too close to them to the point that he allowed US military
bases in the country (23 were leased for 99 years), permitted trade restrictions for Filipinos, and gave special privileges for US property owners
and investors.

Graft and corruption did not stop in the government. Scandals such as the surplus war property scandal, school supplies scandal and Chinese
immigration scandals emerged during his time.

Roxas’ attempts to destroy the HUKBALAHAP created a negative notion to the masses. The people believed that he was not able to manage the
HUKS and failed to halt the movement.

The citizens felt that he surrendered the country’s freedom to the Americans because of the revisions in the Philippine constitution . The new law
gave parity rights to the Americans in exchange for rehabilitation money to fix the country. People were aggravated because most of his policies
were dictated by General Mac Arthur and Commissioner Paul McNutt.
People were infuriated at Roxas to the point that there were plans of assassinating him. Fortunately for the former president, he escaped an
attempted murder by a Tondo barber, Julio Guillen, who threw a grenade on the platform at Plaza Miranda after the President addressed the
rally of citizens.

LAWS AND PROGRAMS

In 1946, the US congress offered 800 million dollars as rehabilitation money in exchange for the ratification of the Bell Trade Act. It was passed
by the US congress specifying the condition of the Philippine economy governing the independence of the Philippines from the Americans. A
system of preferential tariffs was implemented which discouraged government officials to control the country’s import-export market. The
Philippine peso followed the US dollar currency. Aggravating the Filipino citizens, U.S. citizens and corporations were granted equal access to the
natural resources of the country. Many nationalists were not in favor of the bell trade act because it was “a curtailment of Philippine
sovereignty, virtual nullification of Philippine independence” as said by former president Sergio Osmena.

Roxas supported the acceptance of two important laws passed by the Congress of the United States to the Philippines. These laws were The
Philippine Rehabilitation Act and the Philippine Trade Act (Bell trade act).

On August 5, 1946, the Treaty of General Relations was ratified between the Philippines and the US. It recognized Philippine independence as of
July 4, 1946 and relinquished American sovereignty over the Philippine Islands. The establishment of US bases was also included in this treaty.
On March 14, 1947, the Treaty of General Relations was signed.

On September 7, 1946, Manuel Roxas granted a General Amnesty to guerrillas who were imprisoned during World War 2. On January 28, 1948,
General Amnesty was given to all those arrested for conniving with Japan. An earlier amnesty hindered Roxas because of his fear that the
Americans might stop rendering financial assistance to the country.

On January 1, 1947 under the Bell Trade Act, the Parity Amendment was introduced. It gave American citizens and corporations equal rights to
Filipinos to utilize natural resources and operate public utilities. On March 11, 1947, it was ratified in a national plebiscite.

 
Contributions and Achievements:

●inaugurated as the first president of the new Republic after World CONTROVERSIES
War II
-He allowed US military bases in the country (23 were leased for 99
●reconstruction from war damage and life without foreign rule years)
began during his presidency
-Surplus war property scandal
●under his term, the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and Philippine
Trade Act laws were accepted by Congress -School supplies scandal

-Chinese immigration scandals

●appears on the 100-peso bill
-Roxas’ attempts to destroy the HUKBALAHAP created a negative
notion to the masses
PROGRAMS AND POLICIES
-The citizens felt that he surrendered the country’s freedom to the
Tydings Rehabilitation Act Americans because of the revisions in the Philippine constitution

Bell Trade Act -People were aggravated because most of his policies were dictated
by General Mac Arthur and Commissioner Paul McNutt.
Parity Rights
-People were infuriated at Roxas to the point that there were plans
Military Bases Agreement of assassinating him
Adopted Pro-American Policy