1. EVOLUTIONOFPHILIPPINE
POLITICSANDGOVERNANCE
HUMSS 11

2. The historical development of
Philippine Politics and Government
can be studied through its
evolution from the Pre-historic
period which contributed to the
formation of modern Philippine
Politics and Government.

3. The early Filipinos had a government which they
called “Balangay”.
The head or the leader was called a Datu or Rajah
who was assisted by the elders in the community.
All powers of the government were exercised by the
datu or rajah. He was the chief executive, law giver,
chief judge and military head.
There are three social classes at that time namely:
The Maharlika (Nobles),
 the Timawas (Freemen) and the
 Alipin (Slaves).
The Datu or the Rajah came from the Maharlika (The upper
class).

4. The Maharlika (Nobles),

5. The Timawas (Freemen)

8. The Datu or the Rajah

9. Government in the Philippines under
the Spanish Rule
The Philippines was governed indirectly by the
King of Spain through the Viceroy of Mexico.
When Mexico, also a former colony of Spain
gained her freedom in 1821, the Philippines
was ruled directly by Spain until 1898.
The government established in the Philippines
was centralized.

11. Government in the Philippines under
the Spanish Rule
The national government was headed by a
Spanish Governor General, who was appointed
by the King of Spain.
The Governor-General was at times called the
“Representative of the King of Spain” or the
“Little King in the Philippines”.
In theory, he was the highest government
official in the country, and practice frailocracy
“Rule of friars” existed thus overpowering the
Governor General.

12. Government in the Philippines under
the Spanish Rule
Below the national government was the
Alcaldia (Provinces) headed by the Alcalde
Mayor,
the Pueblos (Towns) which were led by the
Gobernadorcillo (little governor) and the
barangays which were led by the Cabeza de
Barangay.

13. Excessive interference of church
officials on the colonial administration,
especially by some members of the
monastic orders (Dominicans,
Augustinians, Franciscans, and
Recollects), sparked deep and
widespread resentment leading the
Philippine Revolution

14. Government in the Philippines under
the Spanish Rule
Andres Bonifacio organized the Katipunan, a
secret revolutionary organization of the Filipinos.
Its aim was a complete separation from Spain.
It precipitated the Philippine Revolution on August
26, 1896 (De Leon & De Leon, 2014).
 It was replaced by another government when it
was discovered by the Spanish authorities.
The new government was headed by Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo as President in the Tejeros Convention
held on March 22-23, 1897.

16. Government in the Philippines under
the Spanish Rule
The Biak-Na-Bato Republic was created by
Gen. Aguinaldo on November 1, 1897.
Its aim was separation from Spain and
formation of the Philippines as an independent
state.
The Republic existed until December 15, 1897,
with the signing of the Pact of Biak-Na-Bato.

18. Government in the Philippines under
the Spanish Rule
It resulted in the Revolutionary exile of
Aguinaldo and his men to Hongkong provided
that General Primo de Rivera would pay
$800,000. On May 24, 1889, Gen. Aguinaldo
established a dictatorial government when he
returned from his exile in Hongkong.
The notable achievements of the Dictatorial
Government were:
1) the proclamation of Philippine Independence
at Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898; and
 2) the reorganization of local governments.

19. Government in the Philippines under
the Spanish Rule
A Revolutionary Government replaced the
Dictatorial Government still with Gen.
Aguinaldo as the head. On January 23, 1899,
the first Philippine Republic was established
with Gen. Aguinaldo as the President.

20. The Government during the American
Regime
The Americans started the military rule in the
Philippines on August 14, 1898.
The president of the United States delegated
his authority to the military governor who
exercised all powers of the government (until
the war lasted) - executive, legislative and
judiciary.

21. The Government during the American
Regime
The Spooner Amendment ended the military
regime in the Philippines.
It was changed into civil government headed by
Civil Governor on July 4, 1901.
The title was changed to Governor General on
February 6, 1905.
The Governor General has legislative powers,
and he was the President of the Philippines
commission from 1901-1907.

22. The Government during the American
Regime
The Philippine Commission was the sole law
making body of the Government.
Eventually, this became the upper house of the
legislative department of the Philippine
Assembly (Created by Philippine Bill of 1902)
as the lower chamber.
The Jones law of 1916 which became the
fundamental law for the Philippines vested the
legislative power in an all- Filipino law-making
body composed of the Philippine Senate and
the House of Representatives.

23. The Commonwealth Government
The Tydings-Mcduffie Law in 1934 established
the Commonwealth Government.
It was a form of government in transition toward
independence.
It provide for a ten-year transition period after
which the Philippine independence would be
Proclaimed and established.

25. The Commonwealth Government
The Commonwealth Government was inaugurated
on November 15, 1935.
The first National Election in the country was held
September 12, 1935. Manuel L. Quezon was the
President, and his Vice-President was Sergio
Osmena.
The Commonwealth Government functioned in
exile during World War II in Washington, USA, from
May 13, 1942 to October 3, 1944 after which it was
reestablished in Manila on February 27, 1945.
The USA turned over to a Filipino President the full
powers and responsibilities of the Commonwealth
Government under the 1935 Constitution.

27. The Government under the Japanese
Occupation
The Japanese military administration was
established in Manila on January 3, 1942. A civil
government which was called the Philippine
Executive Commission was established with Jorge
B. Vargas as chairman.
 It had legislative and executive powers but laws
enacted though were subject to approval by the
Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese forces. On
October 14, 1943,
the Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic with
Jose P. Laurel as the President was inaugurated.

28. The Presidents of the
Philippines

29. Since independence in 1898 and the
ratification of the Philippine
Constitution in the First Republic,
there have been 16 presidents.
Starting with General Emilio
Aguinaldo all the way to current
president Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

30. General Emilio Aguinaldo

31. Manuel L. Quezon

32. Jose P. Laurel

33. Sergio Osmeña

34. Manuel Roxas

35. Elpidio Quirino

36. Ramon Magsaysay

37. Carlos P. Garcia

38. Diosdado Macapagal

39. Ferdinand Marcos

40. Corazon Aquino

41. Fidel V. Ramos

42. Joseph Estrada

43. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

44. Benigno Aquino III

45. Rodrigo R. Duterte

48. The 1987 Philippine Constitution
The 1987 Constitution established a representative
democracy with power divided among three separate
and independent branches of government: The
Executive, a bicameral Legislature, and the Judiciary.
There were three independent
constitutional commissions as well: The
Commission on Audit, The Civil Service
Commission, and the Commission on
Elections.

49. Branch Hierarchy Appointment Powers Removal from
Office
EXECUTIVE President
Elected by
direct vote of
the
registered
voters
1. Nominates the
Cabinet and other
high officials
2. Head of
Government
Ensures faithful
execution of the
laws
3. Commander-in-
Chief of the Armed
Forces
4. Contracts for
foreign loans
Declares martial law
(will be further
discussed in
module 9)
1. Upon the
end of 6 year
term in a
Presidential
Election
2.Upon
resignation
3. Upon
impeachment
(will be further
System of Government under 1987
Constitution

50. Branch Hierarchy Appointment Powers Removal from
Office
Vice President
Elected by direct
vote of the
registered voters
If the President
becomes
incapacitated,
the Vice
President will
take charge of
the official
functions (will be
further discussed
in module 9)
1. Upon the end
of 6 year term in
a Presidential
Election
2.Upon
resignation
3. 3. Upon
impeachment
(will be further
discussed in
module 9)
System of Government under 1987
Constitution

51. Branch Hierarchy Appointment Powers Removal from
Office
Cabinet Secretaries
Executive Secretary,
Secretary of Agrarian
Reform, Secretary of
Agriculture, Secretary of
Budget and Management,
Secretary of Education,
Secretary of Energy.
Secretary of Environment
and Natural Resources,
Secretary of Finance,
Secretary of Foreign Affairs,
Secretary of Health,
Secretary of Justice,
Secretary of Labor and
Employment, Secretary of
National Defense, Secretary
of Public Works and
Highways,
Appointed by
the President
and confirmed
by a commission
on appointments
Advises the
President
1.Upon removal
by the President
2.Upon
resignation
System of Government under 1987 Constitution

52. Branch Hierarchy Appointment Powers Removal from
Office
Local
Government
Unit
Governor, Vice-
Governor,Mayor,
Vice-Mayor,
Councilors,
Sangguniang
Bayan
Elected by direct
vote of the
registered voters
Performs
executive
function under
their
jurisdictions
1. Upon the end
of a term in a
Local/National
Election
2.Upon
resignation
3. Upon proper
legal
proceedings
System of Government under 1987 Constitution

53. Branch Hierarchy Appointment Powers Removal from
Office
LEGISLATIVE
Senate
Senate President
24 Senators
Elected by direct
vote of the
registered voters
1.Introduces and
passes legislation
by a majority
vote
2.Conducts
inquiries in
pursuit of
passing
legislation with
joint two-thirds
vote of Congress
1.Upon
resignation
2.Upon the end
of a 6 - year term
System of Government under 1987 Constitution

54. Branch Hierarchy Appointment Powers Removal from
Office
House of
Representatives
Speaker of the
House
243
Congressional
Districts
61 Party-List
Representatives
1.Elected by
direct vote of the
registered voters
from their
district.
2. Elected by
direct vote of the
registered voters
for a party-list
system
1. Introduces
and passes
legislation
2. Introduces
budget
allotment for a
fiscal year
through budget
hearings with
joint two-thirds
vote
3.Conduct
inquiries in
pursuit of
passing
legislation
1.Upon
resignation
2.Upon the end
of a 3 - year term
3. Upon proper
legal
proceedings
System of Government under 1987 Constitution

55. Branch Hierarchy Appointment Powers Removal from
Office
JUDICIAL
Supreme Court
1 Chief Justice
14 Associate Justices
Lower Collegiate Courts:
Court of Appeals
Court of Tax Appeals
Sandiganbayan
Ombudsman
Regular Courts:
Regional Trial Courts
Metropolitan Trial Court
Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts
Muslim Courts
Sharia District Courts
Appointed by
the President
1.Administrative
supervision over
other courts
2.Jurisdiction
over cases
involving
ambassadors
and public
officials
3.Constitutional
review
4.Hear, Try and
decide cases
1.Upon
resignation
2.Upon reaching
the age of 70
3.Upon
Impeachment
System of Government under 1987 Constitution