Pili Pls ed Gove: a lee ey ai Electoral and Party Politics in the Postwar Period Jorge V. Tigno The single most distinctive feature of Philippine polit is thatthe two major partes are quite Sdental—with espe othe social, ocupatonal, and regional sours of ther support as wel a 0 ‘herpes = Carl Lande Bi Leaning objectives ‘Attn oof this chapter, the sitet ahold | 1. Provide a nara onthe dynamic behavior a eectoral pare from the ‘Second World War up t ust Bore the dcaraon of martial lw in 2 Highligh the factors tat could have facltated o hindered the twin Processes of establishing democrat instutons a wal as domocrate | 4. nso during the period ater independence [ 8, Prove he reader wit abasic krewledge ot how pars behave during ‘Sectors and what ese exercises moan to people, Wi isirodvcti fcc having gone trough the pevod of American miltary and evan Sceupaton, the Piippines was once agin putt the test with ts involvement in the Second World Wae and the ensuing, postae Fpratsruction, Much cn be sid about how the Pilppines has een transformed Zzabe Ni and ow it ha attempted to uses pation as an independent roan forme continued special relations with the US inorder to address the Taek ofthe wars aftermath. What lay ahead forthe county asthe fst rp) democracy in Asia were challenges tht also tested the capacity tt Pats oda suppot tom one another and lb able to generte ned cleavages between them —itp iad Geen: idcin ______ collabortors. According to Abinales and Amoroso: oni secretary tothe president and the appointed mayor of Mana atthe time." Wil arty Politics during the World War I! Interregnom “The outbreak ofthe war overshadowed both the constitutional amendmen fof 1940 and the reelection of Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmena ‘Commonwealth president and vice president, respectively in November 194 In the months before the war, Quezoa had succesfully consolidated both Nationalist Party andthe Commonwealth government viewally under his authority. He had accomplished what no other Filipino had up to that time. pany had almost compete dominion over the legislature where most of leadership was closely allied with him. What remained ofthe oppostion (to the Federal Pary to the Progressvist Pany to the Democratic Party) wou continually be too weak ta challenge the dominance ofthe Nacionalistas. Indeed, Quezon was also abe to consolidate his personal dominance the party and the government. By the 1920s he had wrested the leadership the pany from Osmena. He was even able to weather the challenges to leadership by the 1930s to the extent thatthe 1935 Consiution was pra tailor made to suit his personality and temperament. ‘Atte start of the war, American and Flipino armed forces were already: te reat trom the invading Japanese forces. Quezon's second inaugural ‘was made on Corregidor in December 1941. Eventaly, the Commonwei ‘government went into exe a the US forthe duration of the war. In this: ‘Quezon chose to side with the Americans (rom whom he had goten so ther than remain with the people and face the difheuk choice of collabor ‘with the Japanese, However, given Quezoe's personality, be was nota ‘commanding chers todo so, Chief Justice Joe Abad Santos had been ap by Quezon as acting president of the Commonweal government in Philippines, with Manuel Roxas as secretary othe president! A strong sense pragmatism pervided the sentiments of those who remained and cooper ‘with the Japanese miltary authorises. These Fipins were later to be cal Most Flip keer who collaborated withthe panes dds or pragma restons—the Americans had abandoned them —or in compince wits Quezea's Ceci t work wah the invaders to prevent poll and socal breakdown? Such collaboration among the Filipino leadership proved 0 be inva to the existence ofthe Commonwealth. The so-called colaborators, com ‘mostly of Commonwealthera leaders, would provide continuity berween previous regime and the one that was dominated by Japanese miltary au during the war? ‘Upon ensuring control over much ofthe county, the Japanese ordered creation of an Executive Commitee headed by Jorge Vargas, former execu “Japanese further expanded the membership ofthe commie by creating another Coun of Ste to serve in an advisory capacity tothe commitee* ‘By December 1942, the Japanese Miltary Administration IMA) announced the voluntary dissolution” of ll political paris as"vestiges of American power tne author inthe Philippines. forthe purpose of fostering closer harmony, oncondance, 3nd unanimity among all Flipines... in place of parties, the {MA created the Association fr Service tothe New Philippines or Kapisanan sa Paglingkod s2 Bagong Pilipinas (Kalbap) to act as a nonpolical service compinizaton in aid ofthe county’ “reconstruction” effors. Its fist director general was Benigno S. Aquino.” Being a cretion ofthe Japanese, the Kalbapi was thought to “essentially serve the interest ofthe Japanese, not that of the Flipinos. Ix was seen as Jnarumental in securing some degree of popular suppor for the JMA. This is the reason why, by mid-1943, Kalibapi claimed to have had a registered ‘membership of 36 milion Flipinos or 20 percent ofthe county's population at the ine? Fora intents and purposes, Kalibapi could not be considered a politcal ary. I did not compete or campaign in any election. However, i could also be considered a party tothe extent that itt members viel for public efice (abet not by electoral competition). Membership in the organization was understood by many at the time to be a requirement for employment i ‘sovernment." Being the only party organization that existed, the Kalbapi was sll stood between the people and the Japanese miliary. Indeed, Lang ‘ses that without the Kalibapi, "the ame with the Japanese would have been allthe more dificult i not uterly impossible" Moreover, the association was “mt nwo the sentient te peop for lpn il of ‘te cours clergy, campaign for food production, and conducting a peace ‘Smpsign among the masses by securing rears and ammunition From suid elemens in cenain sector ofthe coun." The Japanese then set about planning f ni set about planning for the eventual declaration of ezentces ofthe Phippines (perhaps in an foto convince the people Seance letestion) and is subsequent suppor ofthe former's war effort SEER Americans. Preparatory Commision for independence was wae Sith Jose tare as president. Win two months, the commision {o deaf the consctuion and subsequently had it approved by a 117 ‘enter Gener hee ‘epber Gene ase ef nom ee hanced y he openee ty stots) patel ty tee snetttlons forthe National sembly and the president ofthe new lic (as provided by the Japanese-sponsored constitution) were held 00 Septem rember 20 and 25, 1943, respectively. Laurel won the presidency and pr red ary Poi Paw P et‘hp ots ed Gren iatdcin Inaugurated the independence ofthe country on October 14, 1943, u Japanese occupation Despite his acquiescence, Laurel was sill seen by the Japanese beligerent." In response to Laurels apparent lack of enthusissm t0 Japan's wartime agenda, the Japanese organized the Kalipunang Makabayan ‘nga Pilipino (Makap) or the Patric League of Flipins on December 8,1 (ot coincidentally, the third aniversary of the attack on Peat! Harboo) Under the leadership of Benigno Ramos (also the founder ofthe Sl Pany of the 19305), the Makapil was used by the Japanese as a hedge a Laure and the republican government. Ramos was sid to have declareé “the Makapil would be independent ofthe Republi subject only tothe att of the Japanese high command.” When American forces had landed oa Islands, "the Japanese decided thatthe Makapil be given free hand in ru the government in lew ofthe Republic’ forte benefit and aid of the retest Japanese forces. Collaboration was not the only thing that preoccupied the Flipino. the war, the Communist Party ofthe Philippines (CPP) continued the res against the Japanese. The CPP established the People's Army Against Japs Hokbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon known 26 Husbalanap Cor Muk for However, not all Huks were communists. Many were poor peasants ‘After it ad gane into exile inthe US, the Commonwealth gover “under Quezon was faced with the problem of who would constiutionally 51 the president after his second term expired in November 1943. The 1 Constitution (as amended in 1940) resis the president's tenure 10 consecutive terms only or a maximum of eight year. Since Quezon wa ‘lected in 1935 and reelected in 194, his term was supposed to en by N 15, 198, without reelection. There arose a constitutional dilemma ofa the president and vice president to extend thee terms without the benefit lection neatly 1943, Quezon wrote President Roosevelt so that the formes continue serving #8 Commonwealth president without being elected fe ‘uration ofthe wr. Liang sates that Quezon justi this propos by sy Japanese Invasion has Getroyed all semblance of consitional govern ae intaton inthe Phllppines. and thatthe Filipino people! would be 4 oss upon learning 28 to how he could have been invited to come 9 “Wishington athe hed ofthe Commonwealth goverment and then dope all ofa sodden jt becuse f the coastinonal maton ofthe president term to eight consecutive yeas.” Shorty ater the appeal was made (with the concurence of Quezon’ and vice presidend, the US Congress passed a joint resolution (hic subsequentiy approved by Roosevelt hr eectively allowed Quezon co hp tr ed ay Pit Paid Ee Inofice forthe duration ofthe wat ™ All was st for Quezoa to succeed himself fr president of the Commonwealth, Unfortunately, he died of x chronic pulmonary disease on August 1, 1944, Upon his death, Osmena assumed the presidency. "stay be said that Philppine pany polities during the Second World War, while having had the makings of becoming mass-oviented, ad been largely prosrbed by Japanese miliary objectives. Politics at the time could not be ivoreed from the particular warime objecives of the Japanese. Moreover, ‘ontary othe impression tha the war had “corrupted” the country’s democratic Instone, there has been a signfcan degree of continuity berween the prewat petiod and wanime episces as well asthe postwar period that ensued” [Hi immediate Postwar Party Politics In October 1944 American forces were able to reestablish their presence on Philippine soi. Almost immediatly afer he landed in the Philippines, General Doiglas Macathur announced the reestablishment of the Commonwealth fovernment une amet With the end of the war andthe ran oF American sovereignty over the archipelago, both the Kalbapl and the Makapli were dsbanded, PreWWIl politcal pares were restored, especially the Nationalist Pary which returned with Osmena nthe immediate post WWII pelod the dee main sues raised in Philippine slecoral politics were the collaboration problem, the matter of postwar ‘constuction, andthe communi (or Hu ebelion. While theofftal American polly was not to allow colaboratrs to occupy postions in government, this 18 not stitly observed in the Philippines. Osmena justified wartime faliaboration with the Japanese by saying Nota publ ofc could take to the hil to cy on the Reo gale Som to seri in the ost to maintain a semblance of goverment, to Poet the population frm the opprenior tote extent pose by human ingen, and to confor the peopl nthe misc, Had the serves not been val m he Japanese would ee have thenlves govern dec and ‘etl, rue nscapulos Flin lower capable of any wetson ‘othe people. The result would have been claus andthe ire inficted ‘our body politic beyond ure. ® uit many ofthese pb ofl ha ben exp tol to tay by Sargh' Bee Quernhinse ani hae sted a ose wo cose spanese during the war “are only doing what they think i their uty. They are nee ane Stators They ae the vis of the adverse onunesof war and