Manuel Acuna Roxas

*Image taken from: http://www.philippine-history.org/presidents.htm

Manuel A. Roxas served as the third and final President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from May 28, 1946 to July 4, 1946. On July 4, 1946, the scheduled date for the American recognition of the independence of the Philippines, Roxas became the first president of the Third Republic of the Philippines. He served for barely two years until a heart attack on April 15, 1948.

Manuel A. Roxas was born on January 1, 1892 in Capiz City (later renamed Roxas City). He received a law degree from the University of the Philippines in 1913.

Roxas’s early political career began in 1917, where he became a member of the municipal city council of Capiz. He became their governor two years later. Three years later he was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives as Speaker of the House. In 1941 he was elected to the Senate, but due to Japanese occupation, did not begin his term for another four years.


*Image taken from http://forum.philboxing.com/

During World War II, Roxas served in the Filipino military as a reserves officer. In 1942 he was captured by Japanese forces and imprisoned. There he became commanding officer of the camp’s prisoners of war. He initiated programs for the prisoners and his leadership impressed his captors. This is when they became interested in Roxas heading a Japanese-sponsored puppet government in an attempt to gain Filipino support for the occupation.

There is speculation as to Roxas’s allegiance. He never served in outright support of the occupation, however did participate underneath the puppet government, leading some to later criticize him as a traitor. He helped with drafting a Constitution in hopes to include Philippine democracy in the document. He also headed Bigasang Bayan (BIBA), responsible for controlling rice prices and distributing rice amongst civilians and Japanese soldiers. While Roxas saw the position as an opportunity to help his countrymen, some saw his involvement as aiding the enemy.

Roxas was freed by General MacArthur and his troops. While he was arrested and tried for cooperating with Japanese troops, he was later pardoned. His political career was reinstated and he beat Sergio Osmena in 1946.

During his term under the Commonwealth, Roxas was preparing the country for independence as well as recovery from the war by passing two important laws: the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and the Philippine Trade Act AKA the Bell Act. Both laws were accepted by Congress and drastically changed the economic and political landscape of the Philippines, as well as the relationship between the two countries.

Other important laws and acts passed under Roxas and his cabinet:
-the Parity Amendment in the Constitution
-the 1947 Military Bases Agreement
-declared amnesty for Japanese allies during World War II (unless they committed violent acts)

-c. simpliciano