PHILIPPINE

DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
PHILIPPINE DEMOCRATIC
POLITICS
 The country is a democracy, led by a directly elected president who
serves as both the head of state and the head of government.The
President heads the executive branch and has significant political
powers President are limited to a single six yearterm of office.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
OF PHILIPPINE DEMOCRATIC
POLITICS
DEVELOPMENTOF PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT
The evolutions of Philippines politics may be presented through the various
historical periods that the country has undergone.The discussion will be dived as
follow;
1. Precolonial period (before 1565)
2. Spanish period (1565-1898)
3. Revolutionary period (1868-1898)
4. American period (1898-n1941)
5. Japanese occupation (1941-1945)
6.Postwar era or the third Philippine republic (1946-1971)
7.Martial Law era (1972-1981) and the fourth republic (1981-1986)
8.Post-EDSA or the fifth republic (1986-present)
PRECOLONIAL PERIOD
 Even before the Spaniards arived in the Philippines in 1521, there already existed a system of
governance in precolonial Philippines.
 Back then, the Philippines was an archipelago organized into several independent and self
sufficient political units knowns as the BARANGAY.
 This unit is headed by a chief as the DATU.
 Present also during the precolonial times was the system of stratification. The stratification was
based on class ,which include :
a.nobility (maharlika)
b.freeman (timawa)
c.the serf (aliping namamahay)
d.the slaves (aliping sagigilid)
SPANISH PERIOD
 Ferdinand Magellans arrival in the Philippines in 1521 became the Spanish crowns basis for the
occupation of the archipelago.
 Thereafter,a number of expedition were sent to formally colonize the archipelago
 However ,it was only during Miguel de lopez conquest of the islands in 1565 did the formal
establishment of a colonal government take place.
 The precolonial government was characterized by independent barangay, the Spaniards
consolidated power under a centralized government which was led by the GOVERNOR-
GENERAL.
 With his authority based in Manila (intramuros), the governor –general was likewise an all
powerful individual.
 Recognizing the influence of the datus for the easier pacification of natives, the Spaniards
appointed the chieftains as the CABEZA DE BARANGAY.
 The unified barangays composed the pueblos or town which were led by the
GOBERNADORCILLO (Little Governor)
 The consolidated towns then form into provinces which could be categorized into two:

a.alcadia –provinces fully subjugated headed by ALCALDE MAYOR.

b. carregimiento-provinces that were not entirely pacified under Spanish
authority led by CORREGIDOR.
 ROYAL AUDIENCE –is an independent body created to hear and solve cases
 audiencias were established in MANILA CEBU, VIGAN.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
 The PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT, led by key figures such as Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del
Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jeana advocated reforms such that the same rights and freedoms
being enjoyed in spain would also be granted to Filipinos.
 They also wrote novels, manifestos and articles the called for reforms
 however ,the failure of the propaganda to initiate changes in the society gave birth to secret
association (KKK).
 As an organization , the katipunan adopted its own form of government ,which had national
and local levels.
 The katipunan was governed by the:

1. Kataastaasang sanggunian (supreme council)-which was composed of the

president,secretary/ies,treasurer and fiscal.
2. Sangguniang balangay (provincial council)
3.Sangguniang barangay (popular council)
4.Sangguniang hukuman (judicial council)
• Events,however ,led to the division of the katipunan in two factions:

a.the magdalo
b.magdiwang
 On, March 22 1897,the Tejeros convention was called ,where Gen ,Emilio Aguinaldo was
elected as president
 On November 1,1897 Aguinaldo established the BIAK NA BATO REPUBLIC .its
constitution declared the creation of an independent Philippine state.
AMERICAN PERIOD
 The signing of the TREATY OF PARIS signaled the end of the Spanish –American war.
 The treaty involved united states payment of $20 million to spain after the latter ceded all as
imperial possesions including Puerto Rico ,Guam and Philippines.
 WILLIAM H. TAFT became the first civil governor of the philipiines. The civil governor acte
as the head of the executive branch and also exercised legislative powers as the head of the
Philippine commission ,a lawmaking body whose members were all appointed.
 In 1902, the Philippines act (cooper act) was enacted which provide for the creation of a
philippine legislature.
 By,1916 the Philippines autonomy act (jones law) provided for the reorganization of the
Philippine legislature into a fully elected and Filipino –controlled bicameral body.
 Until in 1934,tyding –McDuffie Act (Philippine independent Act) was ratified by the US
congress.
 It established the Philippines Commonwealth which provided for a 10-year transition period
that would prepare the Filipinos for self-governance.
 President Manuel Quezon and Vice President Sergio Osmena headed the first commomwealth
government.
JAPANESE PERIOD
 The Japanese occupation of Manila signaled the establishment of the Japanese Militiray
Administrative on January 3,1942.
 An initial move, the Japanese military forces established the Philippine Executive Commision
(PEC) a civil government that would temporary rule the country.
 In 1943, a new constitution was promulgated and the Japanase sponsored Philippine Republic
was established.
 JOSE P. LAUREL served as its president,also called the second republic.
 Second Republic is commonly reffered to as PUPPET GOVERNANCE.
POSTWAR ERA
 The structure of postwar Philippines politics and government was founded on the 1935
constitution.
 The first President of the third republic was Manuel Roxas followed by Elpidio
Quirino,Ramon Magsaysay Carlos P. Garcia Diosdado Macapagal and the first term of
Ferdinand Marcos.
 Marcos second term saw changes in the government structure and the ratification of a new
constitution in 1973.
MARTIAL LAW ERA AND THE
FOURTH REPUBLIC
 In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was elected to the presidency and his administration was
characterized by an:
A.INCREASED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
B.MASSIVE INFRACTURE DEVELOPMENT
C.DEFINING DIPLOMATIC POLICY
 In 1969, he ran for reelection and succeeded, making him the only president under the 1935
constitutions to be elected for a second term.
 The time, however the country was undergoing worsening economic condition,deteriorating
peace and order social discontent and a growing communist insurgeny.
 Under Marcos administration , a new constitution was adopted in 1973.
 The 1973 constitution provided that the Philippines will have a modified parliamentary form
of government
 During Martial law, the political rights civil liberties of the people as well as their human
rights were suppressed and violated .
 Marcos lifted martial law by 1981,he continued to exercise dictatorship powers.
 Calls to end his dictatorial regime brought Filipinos to take to the streets to participates in a
popular and nonviolent uprising called the EDSA PEOPLE POWER which ousted Marcos and
ended his dictatorial rule.
POST-EDSA PERIOD
 The period from 1986 onward is the restoration of democracy. The fall of the dictatorship marked
the shift toward redemocratization and return to constitutionalism.
 A revolutionary government was created following Corazon Aquinos ascent to presidency.
 The POST-EDSA era also known as the FIFTH REPUBLIC.

 CORAZON AQUINO served as the first President of the fifth republic. Followed by FIDEL
RAMOS JOSEPH ESTRADA after being dispose by the EDSA PEOPLE POWER II.
 When the new PHILIPPINES Constitution was ratified in 1987, a democratic and republican
government was established.
 ESTRADA was succeeded by his Vice President GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO,followed by
BENIGNO AQUINO.
 Today, the Philippines is headed by RODRIGO DUTERTE, the first president to have hailed from
Mindanao.
THE EVOLUTION OF
PHILIPPINE POLITICS,
GOVERNMENT, AND
GOVERNANCE
 The Pre- Spanish Government
 The barangay was the basic political unit that existed throughout the Philippine Islands Prior to
the 1400’s. The head or the leader was called the Datu or Rajah who was assisted by elders in the
community. All the powers of the government were exercised by the Datu or Rajah. He was the
chief executive, law giver, chief judge and military head.

 The Sultanes of Mindanao

 From the 1400s onwards, the various communities in Sulu and Maguindanao were organizing
themselves in Sultanes. The Sultanes represented a significant political advancement in
precolonial Philippines as the Muslim communitied of Mindanao achieved a level of political
unity and stability the enabled them to establish strong diplomatic relations with other Asian
communities and successfully resist Spanish conquest.
The Datus were part of a council called Ruma Bichara, which assisted or provided counsel to the
Sultans. This council also included aristocrafts known as the panglima. The Ruma Bichara oversaw
other officials of the state:

1.Waji or the advisers;

2. Rajah Laut or the leader of the martimes force and;
3. Qadi or the magistrate
 Three Social Classes
 1. Maharlika (Nobles)
 2. Timawas (Freeman)
 3. Alipin (Slaves)
 The Datu or the Rajah came from the Maharlika (the upper class).
 Spanish Colonial Government in the Philippines
 In 1521, Spain embarked on its colonial pursuits in Asia as it launched the Magellan
expedition, Magellan and his crew arrived in the Philippines islands and travelled throughout
Eastern and Central Visayas. In 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi successfully conquered the
native communities in Luzon and Visayas and declared the Philippines a colony of Spain. The
Philippines was governed indirectly by the King of Spain through and Viceroy of Mexico.
When Mexico, also a former colony of Spain gained its freedom in 1821, the Philippines was
ruled directly by Spain until 1988.
 The Governor –General

The governor-general was the highest and most powerful official of the Spanish
Colonial government in the Philippines. Apart from his administrative role, the governor-general
also had a military role and was considered the commander-in-chief-of the military forces. It is
for the reason that the full title of the governor-general was “Governor and Captain- General of
the Philippines. “ he was appointed by the King of Spain. At times, he was called the
“Representative of the King of Spain” or the “Little King in the Philippines”
 The governor-general was also in charge of the Royal Audiencia, the judiciary body in the
Philippines at that time. In addition, he was the Vice Real Patron who had the power to
appoint priest to parishes throughout the Philippines.

 One significant basis of laws and governance for the colony was the Recopilacion De Las
Leyes De Los Reynos De Las Indias, a compilations of law applicable to the various Spanish
colonies throughout the world. The governor-general had the power to suspend or ignore laws
imposed by the King of Spain if inapplicable to the Philippines.