Philippine History: The Third Republic & Marcos Era PDF

DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES...

DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES VOIP: 565-0600 local 1037 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vsu.edu.ph The Third Philippine Republic After the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese, the Third Philippine Republic was inaugurated on July 4, 1946 with Manuel A. Roxas as President and Elpidio Quirino as Vice President. Roxas died on April 16, 1948, paving the way for the Quirino presidency which lasted until 1953. Quirino was followed by Ramon Magsaysay, who was not able to finish his term because he died in a plane crash on March 17, 1957. Carlos P. Garcia succeeded Magsaysay. Garcia was followed by Diosdado Macapagal who served the country for only one term. Macapagal was defeated by Ferdinand E. Marcos in the presidential election of 1965. The Marcos Years. Marcos took his oath of office on December 30, 1965. He was reelected in 1969, because of his outstanding performance as chief executive. However, before the end of his second term (1969-1973), Marcos made serious efforts to amend the 1935 Constitution. He created a Constitutional Convention to draft the 1973 Constitution. But even before the framing of this charter was finished, Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1081 which placed the entire archipelago under Martial Law. By virtue of this declaration, Congress was abolished; the opposition leaders and those who were critical of the Marcos administration were either imprisoned or they disappeared. Marcos assumed the executive, the legislative, and even the judicial powers of the government. He virtually controlled all aspects of Philippine politics through his Presidential Decrees and the Batasang Pambansa. On February 7, 1986, Marcos called for a snap presidential election, which was marked by rampant cheating presumably on both the administration candidates led by Marcos for President and Arturo Tolentino for Vice President and the opposition candidates led by Corazon Aquino (the wife of slain opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr.) for President and Salvador Laurel for Vice President. This event led to the so-called EDSA People Power Revolution from February 22 to 25, 1986 that paved the way for the downfall of the 20 years of the Marcos presidency. The Aquino Administration. Corazon Aquino was inducted as the first lady President of the Philippines on February 25, 1986 in Club Filipino, San Juan, Metro Manila. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3 on March 25, 1986 promulgating the Freedom Constitution. Thereafter, on June 2, 1986, she appointed a Constitutional Commission composed of fifty members to draft the 1987 Constitution. On February 2, 1987, the Filipino people voted to ratify the Charter, thereby legalizing the restoration of democratic government and institutions in the country. This was followed by the election of the members of the bicameral legislative body and the election of local executives in May 1987.  DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES VOIP: 565-0600 local 1037 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vsu.edu.ph On May 11, 1992, the first post-Marcos presidential election was held and Fidel Ramos, the former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the anointed successor of Corazon Aquino, was elected president. Ramos Administration On May 11, 1992, the first presidential elections under the 1987 Constitution were held. The elections were generally peaceful and resulted in the lawful and orderly transfer of the presidency. Ramos earlier joined the majority LDP Party but bolted when he lost in the party nomination for president. Thereafter he formed his own Lakas - NUCD Party and went on to win by just 23.6% of the vote, over Miriam Defensor-Santiago of the Peoples Reform Party (PRP), Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), House Speaker Ramon Mitra of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), former First Lady Imelda Marcos of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Senate President Jovito Salonga of the Liberal Party (LP) and Vice President Salvador Laurel of the Nationalista Party (NP). President Fidel Ramos took his oath as the 12th President of the Republic of the Philippines on June 30, 1992 at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park. Early in his administration, Ramos declared "national reconciliation" as his highest priority. He legalized the communist party and created the National Unification Commission (NUC) to lay the groundwork for talks with the communists and other insurgent groups. Ramos, learning from the experiences under the Aquino government, focused his efforts on the restoration of peace and order and the stabilization of the economy. Ramos has made big strides in bringing about a new social and political order by actively reaching out to even political opponents and insurgents to unite the nation behind a common vision. His framework of governance is founded on a five-point program centered on peace and stability; economic growth and sustainable development; energy and power generation; environmental protection; and a streamlined bureaucracy. The Estrada Presidency On May 11, 1998, the former movie star, former Senator and the Vice President during the Ramos administration, Jose Marcelo Ejercito also known by his screen name Joseph Estrada won in the second democratic presidential election since the EDSA revolution. He bested Jose De Venecia of Lakas NUCD, Raul Roco of Aksyon Demokratiko, Juan Ponce Enrile, an independent candidate, Alfredo Lim of the Liberal Party, Miriam Santiago of the People's Reform Party, Imelda Marcos of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, Cebu Governor Emilio Osmena of PROMDI, Sweepstakes Chairman Manuel Morato of Partido Bansang Marangal and Santiago Dumlao of Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Pagbabago. Estrada was the popular choice for President and not the preferred candidate of the outgoing President. On June 30, 1998, Estrada took his oath of office as the 13th president of the Republic of the Philippines in Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan, the same place where Emilio Aguinaldo took his oath as the first president of the Philippines a hundred years ago. When Estrada delivered his inaugural speech at the Rizal Park later that day, mostly in the Tagalog language, the people especially his supporters the masa, were ecstatic specially when he promised that in his administration "walang kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kamag anak...huwag ninyo akong subukan."  DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES VOIP: 565-0600 local 1037 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vsu.edu.ph Estrada's popularity started its decline in the middle 1999, as mounting allegations of cronyism and a badly managed attempt to change the constitution to attract more foreign investment led to a sharp drop in his ratings. On June 19, 2000, Estrada was accused by the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission Perfecto Yasay of pressuring him to clear a friend accused in the country's worst insider trading scandal. Yasay was later forced to quit and the stock market flounders. Then on April 23, 2000, the Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremist group abducted 21 hostages from seven nations from the nearby Malaysian resort of Sipadan and brought them to Jolo, Sulu two days later. The crisis frightened foreign investors and puts Estrada under pressure for months as foreign governments expressed concern over the safety of the hostages. The situation worsened when Estrada's friend, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson revealed on October 9, 2000, that Estrada was receiving bribes from the jueteng lords all over the country, pocketing more than 400 million pesos in bribes from illegal gambling syndicates and about 130 million pesos in kickbacks from tobacco excise taxes meant for his province. Estrada of course denied the accusations but announces an end to state sponsored gambling and privatized a government-run casino firm. On October 18, 2000, the opposition legislators filed an impeachment complaint against Estrada in the House of Representatives over the scandal as thousands of anti-Estrada activists led by former president Corazon Aquino called for Erap's resignation. Estrada thereafter, announced sweeping reforms in government and offered Arroyo the country's top economic post as a gesture of reconciliation. Arroyo rejected the offer, saying he should step down to prevent an economic collapse. Estrada was adamant and vowed that he will not resign and will defend himself in Congress. Estrada's key supporters in Congress, Senate President Franklin Drilon and House of Representatives Speaker Manuel Villar, quit the ruling coalition with 45 other legislators on November 3, 2000. On November 4, 2000 Vice President Gloria Arroyo, the leaders of the Catholic Church and other key members of the opposition lead some 60,000 people in a peaceful protest in Manila calling for Estrada's resignation. Arroyo Assumed Presidency In the morning of Sunday, January 20, 2001, the fourth day since EDSA People Power 2 started, the militant groups marched from EDSA towards Malacanang Palace against the admonition of Cardinal Sin. The Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Hilario Davide declared that the office of the president was vacant. At noon, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took her oath of office before Chief Justice Davide in the presence of the crowd at EDSA, becoming the 14th president of the Republic of the Philippines. At around two o'clock in the afternoon, Estrada released a letter saying he had "strong and serious doubts about the legality and constitutionality of her proclamation as president", but saying he would give up his office to avoid being an obstacle to healing the nation. Thereafter, Estrada, First Lady Luisa Ejercito and their children left Malacanang via the palace gate at the Pasig River. General Angelo Reyes was in Malacanang to secure the safe exit of the deposed President and his family. Amidst the chaos, Estrada and his wife were still smiling, waving to reporters and shaking hands with the remaining members of the Cabinet and other palace employees. On April 4, 2001 the Ombudsman charged Estrada with perjury before the Sandiganbayan for filing a false Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for the year 1999.  DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES VOIP: 565-0600 local 1037 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vsu.edu.ph Estrada was accused of declaring a net worth of only P35 million, when evidence indicated that he had amassed billions of pesos from jueteng payoffs, tax kickbacks and questionable business deals. On April 18, 2001, the Ombudsman file a case against Estrada, his son Jinggoy and several others before the Sandiganbayan for violating Republic Act No. 7080 or the Anti Plunder Law. May 1, 2001 Rebellion From the time of Estrada's arrest on April 25, 2001, his supporters from all over the country converged at the EDSA Shrine, the site of the EDSA People Power 2 that toppled Joseph Estrada from Malacanang on January 20, 2001. Agitated by the political allies of Estrada like Senators Miriam Santiago, Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan, Ernesto Maceda, Pamfilo Lacson, Tessie Oreta, John Osmena, Nikki Coseteng, Tito Sotto and Robert Jaworski the throngs of angry mob marched towards Malacanang Palace on May 1, 2001 to demand the ouster of Arroyo. At least two police officers and one protester were killed and 16 others have been taken to hospital when supporters of Joseph Estrada tried to storm the gates of Malacanang. Riot police managed to clear the area after a few hours, but not before more protesters were injured. Arroyo declared a state of rebellion within Metro Manila, to try to quell the demonstrations and restore peace and order. The police identified the opposition leaders believed to have encouraged the crowds to attack the presidential palace. These included Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan and Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former Ambassador Ernesto Maceda and former PNP Chief Panfilo Lacson. All are seeking a senate seat in the May 14 elections. The government ordered their arrest but only Enrile and Maceda were apprehended but they were able to post bail and were thereafter released from detention. The Oakwood Rebellion In the early hours of July 27, the Glorietta shopping complex and the Oakwood Premier hotel in Makati City were taken over by a group of young rebel soldiers and officers who organized themselves into the Magdalo group. Their spokesman, Lt. SG. Antonio Trillanes of the Philippine Navy, accused the government of staging bombings in Davao City and pinning the blame on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in order to label the group a terrorist organization and secure military aid from the United States. The rebels also demanded the resignation of Col. Victor Corpus, the chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and AFP Chief of Staff General Narciso Abaya. After a 24-hour standoff, the Makati siege was lifted with the rebel troops peacefully returning to their barracks. The rebel troops agreed to go back to the barrack after a marathon meeting with former AFP Chief of Staff Roy Cimatu and middle lever officers from the Navy and the Scout Rangers. 2004 National Elections On May 14, 2004, the Filipinos trooped to the polling precincts once more to choose their leaders from the president down to the municipal councilors. Arroyo won the presidential derby by 12,905,808 votes over movie actor and Estrada's friend Fernando Poe, Jr., Senator Panfilo Lacson, Raul Roco and Evangelist Eduardo Villanueva, amidst charges of massive  DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES VOIP: 565-0600 local 1037 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vsu.edu.ph fraud, vote buying and violence especially in the rural areas, while Arroyo's running mate, newscaster turned senator Manuel "Noli" De Castro won the vice presidential race over Loren Legarda and Herminio Aquino. On June 30, 2004, Gloria Arroyo took her oath of office as President of the Republic of the Philippines for the second time but this time in her own right as duly elected by the Filipino people. She was inaugurated on the island of Cebu, the first Philippine President to be inaugurated there. This was done in gratitude for the support given to her by the people of Cebu during the election. Fernando Poe, Jr. filed an electoral protest against Arroyo before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal of the Supreme Court, but during the pendency of his protest, Poe died early in the morning of December 14, 2004 after he was rushed to St. Luke's Hospital in Quezon City the night before. Poe, fell into a coma after a massive stroke over the weekend and never recovered. Poe's lawyers filed a petition before the Supreme Court to substitute Susan Roces, Poe's wife and continue the protest; however, the Highest Tribunal dismissed on March 29, 2005 the petition and the electoral protest lodged by the deceased actor. Scandals and corruption rocked the Arroyo government. These include the "Garci recordings," various human rights violations which prompted the United nations to send Philip Alston, the United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings who reported that there are compelling reasons supported by evidence that the human rights violations including extra judicial killings were done by the military, the National Broadband Network ZTE scandals among others. These led to the filing of three impeachment cases in three consecutive years against Gloria Arroyo. However, the impeachment cases did not prosper due to the fact that majority of the members of the House of Representatives were faithful allies of Gloria Arroyo. Estrada was Convicted and Pardoned On September 12, 2007, Joseph Estrada was convicted of Plunder by the Sandiganbayan and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua (imprisonment for 20 years and one day to forty years). However, even before he could serve his first day of imprisonment, Gloria Arroyo granted former president Joseph Estrada's application for pardon on October 25, 2007. Arroyo invoked "National unity, the rule of law, justice with accountability" as the guideposts she used in deciding to grant pardon to her ousted predecessor due to plunderer. The pardon was given a little more than a month after Estrada was convicted by the Sandiganbayan and sentenced to reclusion perpetua, which carries a jail term of 20 years and one day to 40 years. Arroyo said that she was aware that he decision would be "debated, welcomed, criticized and given all sorts of meanings and motives," but stressed freeing the nation from bitter political rivalry has been her administration's agenda since she assumed office. Arroyo also invoked Estrada's wish to be with his ailing 102-year-old mother, Mary Ejercito. The 2010 National Elections On May 10, 2010, the Filipino people once again went to the polling places to exercise their right of suffrage and choose their next leaders from the President to the municipal and city councilors. The 2010 national elections was the first time when the counting of the ballots  DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES VOIP: 565-0600 local 1037 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vsu.edu.ph was done by Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines pursuant to the Election Automation Law (Republic Act No. 9369). The candidates for president were Benigno Simeon Aquino III, of the Liberal Party, Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party, Joseph Ejrecito Estrada of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, Gilberto Teodoro of Lakas - Kampi, Eduardo Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas, Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan Party, John Carlos Delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran Party, Nicanor Perlas, an independent candidate and Jamby Madrigal, another independent candidate. While the candidates for vice president were Manuel Roxas of the Liberal Party, Loren Legarda of the Nacionalista Party, Jejomar Binay of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, Eduardo Manzano of Lakas Kampi, Perfecto Yasay of Bangon Pilipinas, Bayani Fernando of Bagumbayan Party, Dominador Chipeco of Ang Kapatiran Party and Jose Sonza of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan. After the votes have been counted, Senator Benigno Simeon Aquino III, emerged as the winner in the presidential race while Jesus Jose Martin Binay, emerged as the Vice President. They were sworn into office on June 30, 2010 and will serve until June 30, 2016.