1st Congress of the Commonwealth of the Philippines

The First Congress of the Commonwealth of the Philippines (Filipino: Unang Kongreso ng Komenwelt ng Pilipinas), also known as the "Postwar Congress" and the "Liberation Congress", refers to the meeting of the bicameral legislature composed of the Senate and House of Representatives, from 1945 to 1946. This Congress convened only after the reestablishment of the Commonwealth Government in 1945 when President Sergio Osmeña called it to five special sessions. Osmeña had replaced Manuel L. Quezon as president after the former died in exile in the United States in 1944.

Significance of the First Commonwealth Congress

Not much has been written about the First Commonwealth Congress, despite its historical and political significance. This owes mainly to the briefness of its existence (i.e., less than a year). However, the First Commonwealth Congress was significant in at least three key respects:

First, it brought an end the president's exercise of legislative powers under the wartime emergency act passed by the defunct National Assembly in 1941.^[1] The opening of Congress in 1945 allowed democratically elected representatives to pass legislation, especially to deal with the Philippines' postwar problems. It also provided an institutional check against executive power, including the presidential power to appoint top officials of the (postwar) government and appropriate funds for its operations.

Second, the First Commonwealth Congress gave birth to the two-party system in the Philippines, as the pro-Osmeña and pro-Roxas blocs or factions there eventually became the Nacionalista and Liberal Parties that alternated in power from 1945 until martial law was imposed in 1972. This Congress thus served as a well spring of political leaders under a two-party system of the soon-to-be independent Republic of the Philippines. Three Philippine presidents, Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino and Carlos P. Garcia were members of this Congress, as were postwar political party leaders like Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez, Speaker Eugenio Pérez, Senator Jose E. Romero and Senator Melecio Arranz. The patron-client orientation of the two-party system evolved in part from the resource constraints faced by members of the Congress right after the war.

Third, it was this Congress laid down much of the groundwork for the country's postwar reconstruction and rehabilitation, including its participation in the postwar global economic order dominated by the United States.

Background: The Outbreak of World War II

Through the most part of the term of the Second National Assembly (1938–1941), the First Congress' immediate predecessor, international conflicts that led to World War II began to take shape. As early as 1940, the National Assembly already declared a state of national emergency^[2] to address the escalating emergency conditions of the times. It gave Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon extensive emergency powers to meet the worsening conditions. All preparations culminated when Japan attacked the Philippines a few hours after bombing Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941. The National Assembly lost no time in enacting substantive legislations, diverting all remaining funds for national defense purposes, and declaring a state of total emergency.^[3] It furthered the broad emergency powers already granted to the President, such as the transfer of the seat of government and the extension of the effectivity of lapsing laws.

In its last act as a legislative body, the National Assembly certified the results of the November 1941 elections where Quezon and Osmeña were re-elected as president and vice president, respectively, along with the legislators who were to compose the First Commonwealth Congress. The Congress replaced the unicameral National Assembly as the legislative branch of government. It was due to meet for the first time in January 1942 had the war not intervene.

Due to the transfer of the Philippine Government to Washington, D.C. in 1942, and the three-year occupation (1942–1945) of the Philippines by Japanese forces, the First Congress could not be convened. In its place, the Japanese formed a puppet National Assembly that passed laws dictated by the Japanese Imperial Government in Tokyo.

The Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic, under José P. Laurel as president, ended in late February 1945 when the Philippines was liberated by the returning American forces in the Pacific.

Reestablishment of Commonwealth Government

Upon the reestablishment of the Philippine Commonwealth in Manila in 1945, General Douglas MacArthur exerted political pressure on President Sergio Osmeña to convene Congress in formal session. Osmeña was reluctant to do so not only because of the huge expense associated with the functioning of Congress, but more so because he feared that its two houses would be controlled by legislators who had collaborated with the Japanese when the Philippine Government was on exile in Washington, D.C.

On May 24, 1945, Osmeña offered Roxas the position of Resident Commissioner to the U.S. Roxas by then was known to be actively seeking the right opportunity to launch his presidential ambition with the backing of General Douglas MacArthur, Quezon's former military adviser and considered as the "Liberator of the Philippines." Two days later, Roxas declined Osmeña's offer and instead asked his supporters to announce his candidacy for president at a time when there was no designated date to hold a national election. The First Commonwealth Congress thus provided the vehicle for Roxas' primacy in Philippine postwar politics and government. It also paved the way for the permanent division of the old Nacionalista Party into two warring factions. Its so-called Liberal Wing or faction (later Liberal Party) nominated Roxas for the presidency in 1946.

The First Commonwealth Congress Convened

In late May 1945, President Osmeña was persuaded to call the First Commonwealth Congress to special session in order to tackle the most pressing issues of postwar rehabilitation and regain constitutional normalcy. Regular sessions could not be held by then, as the Constitution provided that these should take place for 100 days beginning on the fourth Monday of January of each year.

With the old Legislative Building in ruins, the First Commonwealth Congress met in a former Japanese schoolhouse located at 949 Lepanto Street, Manila, beside the headquarters of Gota de Leche. Most senators and congressmen could not hold office there due to limited space and facilities, which were allotted to the officers of the two chambers and the congressional staff. The Senate and the House of Representatives shared the same session hall (the school's former auditorium), with the House meeting in the morning and the Senate using the hall in the evening. The Senate eventually took temporary quarters in the badly damaged Manila City Hall in May 1946. The House remained at Lepanto Street until it moved, with the Senate, to the newly rebuilt Congress building in 1950.

At the first special session of Congress on June 9, 1945, Senators Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quirino were elected as Senate President and Senate President Pro-Tempore, respectively. The House of Representatives elected for its Speaker Iloilo Rep. Jose C. Zulueta and for Speaker Pro-Tempore, Pangasinan Rep. Prospero Sanidad. Only 16 out of 24 senators and 75 of 98 congressmen, who were elected in 1941, attended the five special sessions called by the President. In the Senate alone, Senator Daniel Maramba had died of natural causes immediately before the outbreak of World War II. Senator Jose Ozamiz was executed by the Japanese. Senators Antonio de las Alas, Vicente Madrigal, Quintin Paredes, Claro M. Recto, Proceso E. Sebastian, Emiliano T. Tirona and José Yulo were arrested by the US Army's Counter-Intelligence Corps (CIC) because they had worked in various capacities under the Japanese-sponsored Philippine Government. Alas, Madrigal, Paredes, Recto, Sebastian, Tirona and Yulo had been part of Laurel's Cabinet. The Senate held a lottery to determine who among its members would serve up to April 1946 and November 1947, since senators serve staggered terms under the Constitution.^[4][5]

The First Commonwealth Congress initially convened with 13 senators and 70 congressmen. Three more senators reported and five congressmen joined their colleagues in later sessions. Among the members of the First Commonwealth Congress was Representative Elisa Ochoa from Agusan, the first woman ever elected to the Philippine national legislature.

The two chambers of Congress assembled in joint session in the afternoon of June 9, 1945 to hear President Osmeña deliver his state of the nation address (photo above left). Osmeña expectedly dealt with several proposed legislation to rebuild the financial infrastructure of the Philippines and restore government institutions. He also tried to address issues concerning the terms of office of officials elected in 1941 just before the Japanese invasion.Because of the severe damage caused to property by the war, the legislators who were hurriedly called to Manila in June 1945, including Roxas and Quirino, had no appropriate attire for the congressional sessions other than their army khaki uniforms. President Osmeña ordered two pairs of sharkskin suits to be purchased by the government for each of the legislators around the time of the opening of Congress.

A few foreign dignitaries also addressed the joint session in the next six months. This included U.S. High Commissioner Paul V. McNutt and General MacArthur who received a commendation from the Congress and a second resolution making him an honorary citizen of the Philippines. In his memorable address before its joint session on July 9, 1945, MacArthur said:

"Since the beginning of the time men have crusaded for freedom and for equality. It was this passion for liberty which inspired the architects of my own government to proclaim so immutably and so beautifully that 'all men are created equal' and 'that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.' On such rights rest our basic concept of human freedom, in defense of which we have fought and still continue to fight on the battle fields of the world. These rights are the very antithesis to the totalitarian doctrine which seeks to regiment the people and control the human will as the price for presumed efficiency in government."^[6]

Accomplishments and Controversies

The First Commonwealth Congress passed a total of 48 laws in five special sessions: Commonwealth Act Nos. 672 to 720.

Heeding Osmeña's urgent call during the opening session of Congress, the first legislative measure it enacted was Commonwealth Act No. 672 which restored the Philippine National Bank and organized its financial capital. The viability of the Philippine National Bank was critical to the resuscitation of the Philippine Commonwealth after the war.

One major financial legislation passed by Congress stirred controversy in the U.S. and was eventually vetoed by President Harry Truman despite its approval by President Osmeña. Commonwealth House Bill No. 647 (Senate Bill No. 51), titled "An Act Governing the Payment of Monetary Obligations Incurred or Contracted Prior to and During the Japanese Invasion of the Philippines and for Other Purposes", was passed by both houses of Congress on the last day of its last session, December 20, 1945. It was signed into law by President Osmeña on January 18, 1946. The law provided for the validation of payments made in Japanese "mickey mouse" money during the period of enemy occupation. However, U.S. High Commissioner McNutt objected to it and asked Truman to exercise his final veto on this currency measure. President Truman's accompanying veto letter explained his disapproval, to wit:

"The Commonwealth Act which I am now disapproving would give legal approval to transactions and payments made under the brutal Japanese regime, without regard for the actual value of the Japanese-backed currency in which such payments were made. It would give official sanction to acts by Japanese officials in forcing the liquidation of businesses and accounts of loyal Filipinos, Americans, and allies who were imprisoned by the Japanese. It would have a most harmful effect on the Philippine financial structure which it is our hope and desire to see strengthened in preparation for independence. It would work to the benefit of persons who did business with and under the Japanese to the prejudice of those who were loyal both to the Philippine Commonwealth and to the United States Government."^[7]

The First Commonwealth Congress also tackled the contentious and divisive issue of Filipino collaboration with the Japanese. Osmeña had proposed a bill to set up a special court for this purpose. Roxas initially objected to it, fearing the loss of critical support from his political allies who were accused of, or imprisoned for, collaboration. After extensive congressional debates, Commonwealth Act No. 682 was passed in August 1945 creating the People's Court and the Office of Special Prosecutors to investigate and decide on collaboration charges on an individual basis.^[8] In September 1945, the CIC presented the Filipinos who were accused of having collaborated with, or given aid to, the Japanese so that they may be tried before the People's Court. Included were prominent senators and congressmen who had been active in the puppet government under Laurel. These legislators were unable to attend the five special sessions of the First Commonwealth Congress.

The collaboration issue continued to haunt Congress. Another currency-related legislation passed by the First Commonwealth Congress was held up for a few weeks at the White House before President Truman signed it into law in November 1945. As Truman noted in his letter to President Osmeña, his approval of the original House Bill No. 176, which provides for a reduction of the required gold coverage of Philippine currency, has been delayed "due to the fact that there have been persistent charges that a sizable fraction of the Members of the Philippine Congress had been guilty of collaboration with the enemy, and I have not wanted my approval of the act to be distorted into approval of collaboration."^[9]

The so-called Backpay Law of 1945 turned out to be the most controversial measure passed by the postwar Congress. The law authorized the Philippine Treasury, which was already financially crippled, to pay back salaries and wages to members of Congress and their staff to cover the three years of Japanese occupuation. In effect, the Backpay Law compensated the legislators for service that they never rendered during the war years. The passage of this measure was met with public indignation. It led to a political backlash and many members of Congress lost their seats during the national elections held in April 1946.

Several key measures were passed concerning postwar relations between the Philippines and the United States and the Philippine government's participation in the postwar global politico-economic system led by the United States. Joint Resolution No. 4, signed into law by President Osmeña on July 28, 1945, authorized the President of the Philippines to negotiate with the President of the United States the establishment in the Philippines of military bases “to insure the territorial integrity of the Philippines, the mutual protection of the Philippines and the United States, and the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.”^[10] Another joint resolution was passed by Congress for the establishment of free trade between the United States following the recommendations of the Bell Trade Mission, which President Osmeña himself supported and endorsed. This became the foundation of the controversial Bell Trade Act of 1946.

In October 1945, President Osmeña also signed House Bill No. 608. This legislation authorized the participation of the Philippine Commonwealth Government in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank system following the Bretton-Woods Conference in July 1944.^[11]

Finally, it was during this historic Congress that the Philippine Senate first exercised its constitutional authority to ratify treaties and other international agreements with its unanimous ratification on August 30, 1945 of the Charter of the newly formed United Nations. President Osmeña appeared before the Senate three days earlier to deliver the Charter and ask for its ratification.^[12]

Postwar Factionalism in Congress

The rivalry between Osmeña and Roxas intensified in the Commission on Appointments—a congressional body, consisting of 12 senators and 12 congressmen, which was responsible for confirming presidential nominations. The Commission was chaired by Roxas himself as senate president. In that powerful position, Roxas managed to sit on (bypass) the nominations of some of Osmeña's most important political advisers and supporters. The Commission also confirmed Osmeña's nominations for chief justice and associate justices of the Supreme Court, except for one, Justice Jose A. Espiritu, whose credentials were questioned before the Commission. Espiritu became ths shortest-serving member of the Supreme Court. He returned as dean of the U.P. College of Law in September 1945, after serving in an ad interim capacity as associate justice for only two months.

The heat of presidential politics had also divided loyalties in the postwar Congress, where its members failed to decide on the date of elections for president, vice-president, 16 senators and 98 congressmen. President Osmeña thus requested the U.S. Congress to intervene and set the date of the first post-war elections. The U.S. Congress, in a joint resolution issued in November 1945, called for national elections to take place no later than April 30, 1946 and for the Second Congress to convene not later than May 28, 1946. On January 4, 1946, the First Commonwealth Congress met for the last time to discuss the April 1946 presidential elections—the first since 1941.

The 1946 elections catapulted the newly formed Liberal Party to power for the first time. Senate President Roxas and Senate President Pro Tempore Quirino were respectively elected as first President and Vice-President of the Republic of the Philippines, which gained independence from the U.S. on July 4, 1946. Erstwhile Senate Floor Leader Melecio Arranz became President Pro Tempore of the Senate, while House of Representatives Majority Leader Eugenio Pérez became its Speaker when the new Congress convened in May 1946. Speaker Zulueta, on the other hand, joined the Roxas Cabinet as Secretary of the Interior and later ran and won as senator. Many other members of the First Commonwealth Congress held top positions in the newly born republic.

Other Vital Legislation

• Commonwealth Act No. 672 – Restoration of the Capital of the Philippine National Bank
• Commonwealth Act No. 675 – Immediate Payment of the Salaries of Deceased Filipino Soldiers Including Recognized Guerrillas
• Commonwealth Act No. 676 – Authorization of the Advance Bonus Payment for the Three-Month Salaries of Government Officials and Employees
• Commonwealth Act No. 681 – Rehabilitation of the Philippine Anti-Tuberculosis Society
• Commonwealth Act No. 685 – Rehabilitation of the Quezon Institute
• Commonwealth Act No. 686 – Advance Bonus to Public School Teachers and Low-Salaried Government Employees
• Commonwealth Act No. 687 – Creating the Province of Catanduanes
• Commonwealth Act No. 689 – Creation of the Philippine Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
• Commonwealth Act No. 710 – Appropriations for the Payment of Pensions of Retired Government Personnel
• Commonwealth Act No. 714 – Appropriations for the Payment of Pensions of Retired Philippine Constabulary Personnel
• Commonwealth Act No. 716 – Penalization of Illegal Increase of Rentals

Special Sessions

• First Special Session: June 9 – July 13, 1945
• Second Special Session: August 14 – September 17, 1945
• Third Special Session: September 22 – October 2, 1945
• Fourth Special Session: November – December 12, 1945
• Fifth Special Session: December 13 – December 20, 1945

Leadership of the First Commonwealth Congress

Senate

• President of the Senate:

Manuel Roxas (NP)

• Senate President Pro-Tempore:

Elpidio Quirino (NP)

• Majority Floor Leader:

Melecio Arranz (NP)

House of Representatives

• Speaker of the House of Representatives:

Jose C. Zulueta (NP-Liberal Wing, 1st District Iloilo)

• Speaker Pro-Tempore:

Prospero Sanidad (NP-Liberal Wing, 2nd District Ilocos Sur)

• Majority Floor Leader:

Eugenio P. Perez (NP-Liberal Wing, 2nd District Pangasinan)

Members

Senate

First to Fifth Special Session
Senator		Party^a	Term Start	Term End
	Antonio de las Alas ^4	NP	1941	1946
	Alauya Alonto	NP	1941	1947
	Melecio Arranz	NP	1941	1946
	Nicolas Buendia	NP	1941	1946
	Mariano Jesús Cuenco	NP	1941	1946
	Ramon J. Fernandez	NP	1941	1946
	Carlos P. Garcia	NP	1941	1946
	Pedro C. Hernaez	NP	1941	1947
	Domingo Imperial	NP	1941	1946
	Vicente Madrigral ^4	NP	1941	1947
	Daniel Maramba^3	NP	1941	1946
	Jose F. Ozamiz^3	NP	1941	1946
	Quintin Paredes ^4	NP	1941	1946
	Elpidio Quirino ^2	NP	1941	1946
	Vicente Rama	NP	1941	1947
	Esteban dela Rama	NP	1941	1947
	Claro M. Recto ^4	NP	1941	1947
	Eulogio A. Rodriguez, Sr. ^4	NP	1941	1947
	Manuel Roxas ^1	NP	1941	1946
	Proceso E. Sebastian ^4	NP	1941	1947
	Emiliano T. Tirona ^4	NP	1941	1947
	Ramon Torres	NP	1941	1946
	José Yulo ^4	NP	1941	1946

^a Party affiliation at the time of the convening of Congress.

NP – Nacionalista Party

^1 Manuel Roxas was elected as the Last President of the Commonwealth Republic in the 1946 Elections.

^2 Elpidio Quirino were elected as the Last Vice-President of the Commonwealth Republic in the 1946 Elections.

^3 Daniel Maramba died on December 28, 1941 and Jose Ozamiz was executed on February 11, 1944 during the war.

^4 The following were detained because of collaboration charges with the Japanese: Antonio de las Alas, Vicente Madrigal, Quintin Paredes,
Claro M. Recto, Proceso E. Sebastian, Emiliano Tria Tirona, José Yulo.

House of Representatives

Province	District	Representative^a
Abra	Lone	Jesus Paredes
Agusan	Lone	Elisa R. Ochoa
Albay	1st	Isabelo V. Binamira
	2nd	Jose S. Valenciano
	3rd	Marcial O. Rañola
	4th	Francisco A. Perfecto
Antique	Lone	Emigdio Nietes
Bataan	Lone	Antonio G. Llamas
Batanes	Lone	Vicente Agan
Batangas	1st	Miguel Tolentino
	2nd	Eusebio Orense
	3rd	José B. Laurel, Jr.
Bohol	1st
		Genaro Visarra
	2nd	Simeon G. Toribio
	3rd	Margarito E. Revilles
Bukidnon	Lone	Manuel Fortich
Bulacan	1st	Leon Valencia
	2nd	Antonio Villarama
Cagayan	1st	Nicanor Carag
	2nd	Miguel P. Pio
Camarines Norte	Lone	Wenceslao Q. Vinzons ^1
Camarines Sur	1st	Jaime M. Reyes
	2nd	Jose T. Fuentebella
Capiz	1st	Ramon A. Arnaldo
	2nd	Cornelio T. Villareal
	3rd	Jose M. Reyes
Cavite	Lone	Justiniano S. Montano
Cebu	1st	Celestino Rodriguez
	2nd	Pedro Lopez
	3rd	Maximino Noel
	4th	Agustin Y. Kintanar
	5th	Miguel Cuenco
	6th	Nicolas Rafols
	7th	Jose Rodriguez
Cotabato	Lone	Ugalingan Piang
Davao	Lone	Juan Sarenas
Ilocos Norte	1st	Vicente T. Lazo
	2nd	Rubio Conrado
Ilocos Sur	1st	Jesus Serrano
	2nd	Prospero Sanidad
Iloilo	1st	Jose C. Zulueta
	2nd	Oscar Ledesma
	3rd	Tiburcio Lutero
	4th	Ceferino de los Santos
	5th	Juan Borra
Isabela	Lone	Lino J. Castillejos
La Union	1st	Francisco Ortega
	2nd	Enrique Rimando
Laguna	1st	Conrado M. Potenciano
	2nd	Estanislao A. Fernandez, Jr.
Lanao	Lone	Salvador T. Lluch
Leyte	1st	Mateo Canonoy
	2nd	Dominador M. Tan
	3rd	Tomas Oppus
	4th	Filomeno Montejo
	5th	Jose Ma. Veloso
Manila	1st	Engracio Clemeña
	2nd	Alfonso E. Mendoza
Marinduque	Lone	Cecilio A. Maneja
Masbate	Lone	Emilio B. Espinosa
Mindoro	Lone	Raúl T. Leuterio
Misamis Occidental	Lone	Eugenio Stuart Del Rosario
Misamis Oriental	Lone	Jose Artadi
Mountain Province	1st	George K. Tait
	2nd	Ramon P. Mitra
	3rd	Gregorio Morrero
Negros Occidental	1st	Enrique B. Magalona
	2nd	Aguedo Gonzaga
	3rd	Raymundo Vargas
Negros Oriental	1st	Julian L. Teves
	2nd	Jose E. Romero
Nueva Ecija	1st	Jose Cando
	2nd	Gabriel Belmonte
Nueva Vizcaya	Lone	Leon Cabarroguis
Palawan	Lone	Sofronio Española
Pampanga	1st	Eligio Lagman
	2nd	Jose P. Fausto
Pangasinan	1st	Jose P. Bengson
	2nd	Eugenio Pérez
	3rd	Pascual Beltran
	4th	Cipriano P. Primicias, Sr.
	5th	Narciso Ramos
Rizal	1st	Francisco Sevilla
	2nd	Emilio de la Paz
Romblon	Lone	Leonardo Festin
Samar	1st	Decoroso Rosales
	2nd	Pedro R. Artache
	3rd	Felix Opimo
Sorsogon	1st	Norberto Roque
	2nd	Teodoro Vera
Sulu	Lone	Ombra Amilbangsa
Surigao	Lone	Ricardo Navarro
Tarlac	1st	Jose Cojuangco
	2nd	Benigno S. Aquino^2
Tayabas	1st	Pedro Insua
	2nd	Francisco Lavides
Zambales	Lone	Valentin Afable
Zamboanga	Lone	Matias Ranillo

^a 75 out of the 98 elected representatives attended the Special Sessions of the First Commonwealth Congress. 11 had died since 1941, 31 held positions in the Japanese-sponsored government, of whom 17 were arrested and detained by the US Army's Counter-Intelligence Corps (CIC).

^1 Executed on July 15, 1942 during the war.

^2 Detained by the US Army's Counter-Intelligence Corps (CIC).

See also

• Congress of the Philippines
• Senate of the Philippines
• House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Philippine general election, 1941

References

1. Araneta vs. Dinglasan, G.R. No. L-2044, August 26, 1949.
2. The Philippine Free Press Online - Emergency Powers. Accessed on April 16, 2007.
3. The Sunday Times - PP1017 is not at all similar to PP1081. Accessed on April 16, 2007
4. https://philippinediaryproject.wordpress.com/tag/proceso-sebastian/
5. Lumontad vs. Cuenco, 41 Off. Gaz., 894.
6. Douglas MacArthur, Address before the Joint Session of the Congress of the Philippines, Manila, July 9, 1945
7. Statement by the President Upon Disapproving a Bill of the Philippine Congress, February 7, 1946, .
8. Commonwealth Act No. 682.
9. Letter of President Harry S. Truman to President Osmena of the Philippines Upon Approving a Bill of the Philippine Congress. November 14, 1945, http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=12293.
10. http://www.gov.ph/1945/08/01/presidents-month-in-review-august-1945/
11. http://www.gov.ph/1945/10/01/presidents-month-in-review-october-1945/
12. http://www.gov.ph/1945/09/01/presidents-month-in-review-september-1945/

External links

• "List of Senators". Senate of the Philippines. Archived from the original on 2006-09-14. Retrieved 2006-09-16.
• "The LAWPHi'L Project - Philippine Laws and Jurispudance Databank". Arellano Law Foundation. Archived from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-16.

Further reading

• Philippine House of Representatives Congressional Library
• The Presidents of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines. ISBN 971-8832-24-6.
• Pobre, Cesar P. Philippine Legislature 100 Years. ISBN 971-92245-0-9.