Do you consider Jose P. Laurel as Japanese Collaborator?

Jose P. Laurel was labelled as a Japanese collaborator, a traitor, and a president who betrayed his entire country in
the hands of the colonizers. He was called the Puppet Regime because some of the people believed that the Japanese
controlled Jose Laurel who was the president of the country at that time.

Reason why He was definitely never a puppet.

 HE DID NOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY WHEN THE JAPANESE CAME

When the Second World War broke out, the Japanese reached the Philippines. At that time, almost all
government officials left the country for exile, including President Manuel Quezon. He gave orders to his Executive
Commission to stay behind, and “do the best they could to soften the blow of enemy occupation” and this included
Jose P. Laurel.

 HE STOOD HIS GROUND IN PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE FILIPINOS

Considered as the father of 1934 Constitution, Laurel was consistent in standing firm for his countrymen. During
the making of the new constitution, the Japanese wanted to enlist Filipino soldiers in their war; however, Laurel was
persistent and did not allow this.

 THE ONLY PRESIDENT WHO SERVED IN ALL THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

Jose P. Laurel is the only president who served in the country’s Second Republic. He is also the only president who
served in all the three branches of government: the judiciary (as associate justice), the legislative (as senator), and the
executive (as president and as a member of the cabinet).

 HE TURNED MALACANANG PALACE A FILIPINO SAFE HAVEN

He refused to turn over Manuel Roxas and Major Jesus Vargas to the Japanese, when there were suspected as
head members of the insurgency. Even though he only had 300 Presidential guards, Laurel didn’t allow the Japanese
military to occupy Malacañang.

 HE HID REBELS INSIDE THE PALACE

He turned a blind eye to the insurgency that was brewing, and there are accounts telling that he even helped
them and sneaked them inside the Palace for security. When Laurel did not have the ability to hold the country’s
freedom, he knew where to stand his ground.

Jose P. Laurel became president in 1943 until 1945. After his amnesty he still remained in the government and
was even elected as a senator in the years that followed. He even founded Lyceum of the Philippines.

In 1957 he retired from public life, and on November 6, 1959 he died from a heart attack.

As today marks Jose P. Laurel’s death anniversary, May his story inspires us to read with keen eyes, that not
every story is written with victory, and not every victory is won with blood.