Prime Minister of the Philippines

Prime Minister of the Philippines
Punong Ministro ng Pilipinas

Precursor Office established (pre-1899)
President of the Philippines (1978)
Formation January 2, 1899 (1st creation)
June 12, 1978 (2nd creation)
First holder Apolinario Mabini y Maranan
Final holder Salvador H. Laurel
Abolished November 13, 1899 (1st abolition)
March 25, 1986 (2nd abolition)
Succession President of the Philippines (1899–1978; 1986)

The Prime Minister of the Philippines (Filipino: Punong Ministro ng Pilipinas) was the official designation of the head of the government (whereas the President of the Philippines was the head of state) of the Philippines from 1978 until the People Power Revolution in 1986. A limited version of such existed temporarily in 1899 during the First Philippine Republic.

History

President of the Council of Government (1899)

Apolinario Mabini, first President of the Council of Government, considered as the Prime Minister's office.

The 1899 Constitution of the Philippines created the office of the Council of Government (Spanish: Consejo de Gobierno) which will be composed of the President of the Council (Spanish: Presidente del Consejo de Gobierno) and seven secretaries.[1] The president of the revolutionary government led by Emilio Aguinaldo, appointed his advisor Apolinario Mabini as the first President of the Council of Government through a decree issued January 2, 1899.[2] Mabini also became the finance minister of the Republic. The President of the Council is also equivalent to a prime minister as he heads the secretaries, or ministers that advises the President of the Republic.[3]

On December 10, 1898, on the other hand, the war between United States and Spain was concluded with Spain giving up all rights to Cuba and surrendering Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States.[4] Two days later, Aguinaldo ordered his lawyer Felipe Agoncillo to contest the Philippine status as an independent nation and no longer a Spanish colony since the declaration of independence on June 12, 1898.[5] However, the United States did not recognize Philippine sovereignty and announced their interest to annex the country by January 1899. This brought into serious foreign conflict when the Republic was formally established in January 23 at Malolos. By January 30, Aguinaldo resend Agoncillo, this time, to the United States Senate so as to reconsider their plans to annex the country and formally recognize Filipino independence.[6]

In the next few months, Mabini was pressured by political problems such as negotiating to end the hostilities between Filipinos and American forces left in the Philippines after the war. With the failure of having successful agreements with the US army to secure ceasefire, the first shot of the Philippine–American War erupted in February 4, 1899.[7] The revolutionary government was forced to vacate Malolos and transfer the seat of administration from place to place. Mabini, who was pressured then from his political adversaries and failure to stop the increasing guerilla insurgency during the war, left the post and surrendered to United States on May 7, 1899.[8]

One of the political adversaries who forced Mabini to leave office was Pedro A. Paterno, president of the Congress of the Republic since September 15, 1898. He opposed Mabini's offensive plan to counter United States attacks during the war, so he proposed peace plans with the Americans to Aguinaldo, such that the Philippines would be a protectorate of the United States with full autonomy. This was opposed by Mabini, however, Paterno and his allies convinced Aguinaldo to dissolve the Mabini cabinet which made the latter surrender to US.

Pedro A. Paterno succeeded Mabini in May 1899. His actions led to the declaration of war against the United States the next month.

The next day, May 8, Aguinaldo appointed Paterno as the President of the Council of Government.[9] One of his first moves during his term was to draft a copy of "Autonomy Plan" to the Schurman Commission which asks for peace settlement with the US government. This also states that the Filipinos are ready to drop the idea of independence and accept US sovereignty over the archipelago.[10]

Meanwhile, the takeover of Paterno of the revolutionary government and his actions towards the Schurman Commission infuriated General Antonio Luna, the commanding officer of the Philippine Army. He ordered to arrest Paterno and other members of the Cabinet, however, he was unsuccessful to send Paterno to jail.[10] Due to his actions, Paterno was forced to write a manifesto on June 2, 1899, stating a formal declaration of war against the United States.[11][12] On June 5, Luna was assassinated in Nueva Ecija, one of the alleged reasons for his murder was due to this conflict with Paterno.[13]

During the war, the seat of Aguinaldo changed from place to place northwards as the Americans grew aggressive. On November 13, 1899, Paterno was captured by US forces in Benguet, thus ending his term as the President of the Council.[9] Aguinaldo, however, did not appoint a successor for Paterno as he was busy for fleeing the Republic. On June 21, 1900, Paterno, as prisoner of war, accepted amnesty granted by the military governor General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. and he finally swore allegiance to the United States together with other members of Aguinaldo government.[14]

From 1899 to 1901, Philippines was headed by American military governors. When Aguinaldo was captured by Gen. Frederick Funston on March 23, 1901 at Palanan, Isabela, the country was headed then by civil governors until the formal establishment of self-autonomous Commonwealth on November 15, 1935. The 1935 Constitution that describes the operation of the Commonwealth does not have the provision of reviving the office of the President of the Council of the Government or creating any related position. This was continued until the Third Republic.

Second creation (1978–1986)

Prime Minister Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos in 1979.

In 1976, President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decrees 991 and 1033 calling for a constitutional referendum, set on October 16, 1976. The voters were asked whether they wanted to lift the ongoing martial law since 1972; the majority approved its continuation. In addition, drafted and ratified was the Sixth Amendment to the 1973 Constitution, which fused legislative and executive powers in the office of President. One of its provisions at the time of ratification was that the President shall obtain the title of Prime Minister, thus re-creating the office after 1899.[15] The Prime Minister, who is also the President, also have the powers vested by the president described in the 1935 Constitution. The Amendment also created the Interim Batasang Pambansa (Interim National Assembly, IBP), as well as a provision such that the President/Prime Minister will exercise legislative powers until martial law is lifted.[15][16]

On April 7, 1978, the first election for the unicameral legislature known as the Batasang Pambansa, was held since the abolition of the bicameral Congress by virtue of the 1973 Constitution. One hundred and fifty out of 165 elected positions of the parliament were dominated by Marcos' ruling party Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement).[17] By June 12, the IBP was inaugurated which also confirmed Marcos' position as the Prime Minister of the Philippines.[16]

On June 30, 1981, upon his inauguration for a third presidential term, Marcos formally relinquished his powers as prime minister and he appointed then finance minister Cesar Virata to succeed him to the post during the opening of the fourth regular session of the IBP on July 27, 1981. Virata, a grand-nephew of former president Emilio Aguinaldo,[18] previously represented the country to World Bank's Council of Governors.[19] Until the 1986 People Power Revolution, Virata held this position. It was conjectured that Marcos bestowed his Prime Ministerial post to Virata was the latter's distance from mainstream politics. Other than being Marcos' finance minister, Virata was not a political threat.[20]

Abolition

Upon her accession in late February 1986, Corazon Aquino appointed her Vice President and running mate Salvador Laurel to succeed Virata under her revolutionary government.[21] However, the premiership was later abolished in March 1986 with the release of Proclamation № 3, or the "Freedom Constitution".[22]

The subsequent and currently enforced 1987 Constitution has no provisions for such a position, as the President is concurrently head of government and head of state.

Powers and duties

Map of the Philippines highlighting the birthplace of Prime Ministers.

The office of the President of the Council of Government was created by 1899 Constitution of the Philippines on Title IX, with the role as the head of secretaries to the President of the Republic.[1] The first President of the Council was Apolinario Mabini, who also happened to be the finance minister. The President of the Council is equivalent to present-day prime minister.

The 1973 Constitution provided clear powers and duties of the Prime Minister starting at the administration of Ferdinand E. Marcos. Article IX, section 3 of the 1973 Constitution describes the primary qualification of an individual to become the Prime Minister: he must be a member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa (National Assembly).[23] To become a member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa, one must be a qualified citizen of the Republic and was elected by the popular district in which he will represent at the assembly.[24] Though the appointment of the Prime Minister is exactly written on the Constitution, however, the Prime Minister is exempted from impeachment,[25] thus paving way for whoever the Prime Minister will be, for an indefinite term.[26] On the same hand, the Prime Minister and his deputy may leave office at their own will.[27]

Apart being the head of government, the Prime Minister is also the head of his Cabinet. He has the power to appoint Cabinet members majority are from the National Assembly. Likewise, he also has the power from office to remove them upon his discretion.

He also has the following powers and duties:

In Section 16, it was also mentioned that all powers previously vested by the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines to the President of the Republic shall be transferred to the Prime Minister unless the National Assembly provides those.[34] This includes the power of the Prime Minister to sign and create treaties and foreign agreements as well as appointment of ambassadors and consuls with the permission of the Commission on Appointments.[35]

List of Prime Ministers

# Prime Minister
(Birth–Death)		 Party Start of service End of service President Legislature Era
1 Apolinario Mabini
(1864–1903)
 None January 2, 1899 January 23, 1899 Emilio Aguinaldo Malolos Congress Revolutionary Government
January 23, 1899 May 7, 1899 First Republic
2 Pedro A. Paterno
(1857–1911)
 May 8, 1899 November 13, 1899
Office abolished
[n 1]
November 14, 1899—June 12, 1978
3 Ferdinand E. Marcos
(1917–1989)
 KBL June 12, 1978[n 2] June 30, 1981 Ferdinand E. Marcos Interim Batasang Pambansa Second Republic
4 Cesar E. A. Virata
(1930– )
 July 28, 1981 July 23, 1984 Fourth Republic
July 23, 1984 February 25, 1986 Regular Batasang Pambansa
5 Salvador H. Laurel
(1928–2004)
 UNIDO February 25, 1986 March 25, 1986 Corazon C. Aquino
Defunct
The presidential system is used; the President is head of both state and government by virtue of the 1987 Constitution

Timeline

Statistics

Cesar E. A. Virata (1981-1986) (born December 12, 1930) — 85 years, 18 days
  1. Ferdinand E. Marcos — 60 years, 274 days
  2. Salvador H. Laurel — 57 years, 99 days
  3. Cesar E. A. Virata — 50 years, 200 days
  4. Pedro A. Paterno — 41 years, 69 days
  5. Apolinario Mabini — 34 years, 163 days
  1. Cesar E. A. Virata (1981-1986) — 4 years, 240 days
  2. Ferdinand E. Marcos (1978-1981) — 3 years, 18 days
  3. Apolinario Mabini (1899) — 184 days
  4. Pedro A. Paterno (1899) — 131 days
  5. Salvador H. Laurel (1986) — 28 days

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The newly formed Philippines led by President Emilio Aguinaldo was ceded by Spain to United States as an aftermath of the Spanish–American War and a provision to the 1898 Treaty of Paris. From 1898–1901, the Philippines was headed by an American military governor, followed by American civil governors until 1935, when the Commonwealth of the Philippines was inaugurated. Since the establishment of the Commonwealth (1936–1946), Third Republic (1946–1969) until 1978, there is no Prime Minister post.
  2. ↑ Ferdinand Marcos became the first Prime Minister in 1976 when the Sixth Amendment was ratified. However, his claim to the post was verified after his party won majority of the National Assembly seats and declared him as Prime Minister on June 12, 1978.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Title IX, Article 73. 1899 Constitution of the Philippines
  2. ↑ Guevara 1972, p. 81
  3. ↑ Guevara 1972, p. 82
  4. ↑ "Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain; December 10, 1898". Yale. 2009. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  5. ↑ Guevara 1972, p. Appendix G-1
  6. ↑ Guevara 1972, p. 236
  7. ↑ Tucker 2009, p. 352
  8. ↑ Keat 2004, p. 804
  9. 1 2 Tucker 2009, p. 466
  10. 1 2 Mojares 2006, p. 25
  11. ↑ Kalaw 1927, pp. 199–200
  12. ↑ Mojares 2006, p. 26
  13. ↑ Tucker 2009, p. 346
  14. ↑ Mojares 2006, p. 31
  15. 1 2 Celoza 1997, p. 60
  16. 1 2 Taylor & Francis 2004, p. 3408
  17. ↑ Teehanke 2006, p. 160
  18. ↑ "Progressive Leader of the Philippines, Cesar Virata WG 1953". The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  19. ↑ Case 2002, p. 217
  20. ↑ Celoza 1997, p. 75
  21. ↑ Steinberg 2000, p. 153
  22. ↑ "Philippines: Historical Overview" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  23. ↑ Article IX, Section 3. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  24. ↑ Article VII, Section 2. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  25. ↑ Article XIII, Section 2. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  26. ↑ Pomeroy 1992, p. 263
  27. ↑ Article IX, Section 9. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  28. ↑ Article IX, Section 5. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  29. ↑ Article IX, Section 10. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  30. ↑ Article IX, Section 11. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  31. 1 2 Article IX, Section 12. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  32. ↑ Article IX, Section 14. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  33. ↑ Article IX, Section 15. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  34. ↑ Article IX, Section 16. 1973 Constitution of the Philippines
  35. ↑ Article VII, Section 10. 1935 Constitution of the Philippines

Bibliography

Government documents

Published works

Preceded by
Governor-General of the Spanish East Indies		 Head of government of the Philippines
1899 		Succeeded by
President of the Philippines
Preceded by
President of the Philippines		 Head of government of the Philippines
1978–1986 		President of the Philippines
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