The Third to Fifth Republic

of the Philippines
Philippine Politics and Governance
 As posted on the Official
Gazette webpage of the
Philippine Government as of
July 20, 2020, the following
are the Presidents of the
The Third Philippines with discussion
Republic about their administrations
from the Third Republic to
Fourth Republic:
 President Manuel Roxas,
became the first president of
the independent Republic of
The Roxas the Philippines. In an effort
Administration to solve the massive socio-
economic problems of the
(May 28, 1946 period, President Roxas
– April 15, reorganized the government,
1948) and proposed a wide-
sweeping legislative
program.
 His administration was marred
by graft and corruption;
moreover, the abuses of the
The Roxas provincial military police
contributed to the rise of the
Administration left-wing Hukbalahap (Huk)
(May 28, 1946 movement in the countryside.
His heavy-handed attempts to
– April 15, crush the Huks led to
1948) widespread peasant
disaffection.
 President Elpidio Quirino’s goal
as chief executive, as stated in
his first State of the Nation
Address, revolved around
The Quirino strengthening the people’s
Administration confidence in the government
and the restoration of peace. In
(April 17, 1948 order to achieve these, the Chief
– December 30, Executive travelled around the
country to inspect first-hand the
1953) condition of the nation.
 President Quirino’s six years’
administration were marked by
notable post-war reconstruction,
general economic gains, and
The Quirino increased economic aid from the
Administration United States. Basic social
problems, however, particularly
(April 17, 1948 in the rural areas, remained
– December 30, unsolved; Quirino’s
administration was tainted by
1953) widespread graft and corruption.
 To help the rural masses was the
focal point of the populist
administration of President
Ramon Magsaysay. In his first
The Magsaysay Executive Order, he established
Administration the Presidential Complaint and
Action Commission, which
(December 30, investigated various citizen
1953 – March complaints and recommended
remedial actions through
17, 1957) different government agencies.
 The Commission served to boost
the nation’s confidence with its
government; it was seen as a
fulfilment of President
The Magsaysay Magsaysay’s promise, to become
Administration a President for the people. The
principles of the Magsaysay
(December 30, administration were codified in
1953 – March the Magsaysay Credo, and
became the theme of leadership
17, 1957) and public service.
 Carlos P. Garcia’s administration
promoted the “Filipino First” policy,
whose focal point was to regain
The Garcia economic independence; a national
effort by Filipinos to “obtain major
Administration and dominant participation in their
(March 18, economy.”] The administration
campaigned for the citizens’ support
1957 – in patronizing Filipino products and
services, and implemented import
December 30, and currency controls favourable for
1961) Filipino industries.
 In connection with the government’s
goal of self-sufficiency was the
“Austerity Program,” which
The Garcia President Garcia described in his
first State of the Nation Address as
Administration “more work, more thrift, more
(March 18, productive investment, and more
efficiency” that aimed to mobilize
1957 – national savings. The Anti-Graft and
Corrupt Practices Act, through
December 30, Republic Act No. 301, aimed to
1961) prevent corruption, and promote
honesty and public trust.
 President Diosdado Macapagal,
during his inaugural address on
December 30, 1961, emphasized
The Macapagal the responsibilities and goals to
Administration be attained in the “new era” that
was the Macapagal
(December 30, administration. He reiterated his
1961- resolve to eradicate corruption,
and assured the public that
December 30, honesty would prevail in his
presidency.
1965)
 President Macapagal, too,
aimed at self-sufficiency and
The Macapagal the promotion of every
citizen’s welfare, through the
Administration partnership of the
(December 30, government and private
1961- sector, and to alleviate
poverty by providing
December 30, solutions for unemployment.
1965)
 In the field of foreign relations,
the Philippines became a
founding member of Maphilindo,
The Macapagal through the Manila Accord of
Administration 1963. The regional organization
of Malay states strove for “Asian
(December 30, solutions by Asian nations for
1961- Asian problems,” and aimed to
solve national and regional
December 30, problems through regional
diplomacy.
1965)
 The last president of the Third
Republic of the Philippines
was President Ferdinand E.
The Marcos Marcos. Prior to the events of
Administration - Martial Law, the first term of
Fourth Republic the Marcos administration, as
emphasized in his inaugural
(December 30, address on December 30,
1965 – February 1965, focused on “the revival
25, 1986) of the greatness of the nation.”
 President Marcos, was the first
president to be re-elected, in 1969,
although the election was tainted by
The Marcos violence and allegations that Marcos
used the treasury to fund his
Administration - campaign. However, significant
protests, such as the First Quarter
Fourth Republic Storm, the communist and Moro
(December 30, insurgencies, and civil unrest,
heightened. This made Marcos in
1965 – February 1972 declare martial law and
25, 1986) suspend the constitution.
 A new constitution calling for a
semi-presidential government was
approved in 1973, but Marcos still
The Marcos ruled by decree until 1978, when
the Interim Batasang Pambansa was
Administration - elected. However, opposition groups,
whose leaders mostly had already
Fourth Republic left in exile, boycotted the election,
(December 30, and Marcos still allowed martial law
to continue. Marcos did end martial
1965 – February law in 1981, but opposition groups
25, 1986) still boycotted the 1981 presidential
election, which Marcos easily won.
 Opposition leader Benigno Aquino
Jr. was slain upon his return to the
country in 1983. By this time, the
The Marcos government was marred by alleged
rampant corruption and allegations
Administration - of human rights violations. The
opposition participated in the 1984
Fourth Republic parliamentary election and won
(December 30, several seats, but not enough to
topple Marcos' KBL. To counter
1965 – February growing opposition, Marcos called a
25, 1986) snap election in 1986, the
opposition nominated Benigno's
widow Corazon as their candidate.
 Marcos was declared the winner,
but the opposition refused to accept
the result, alleging that the election
The Marcos was rigged. The People Power
Revolution drove Marcos from
Administration - power, and Aquino became
president. Aquino ruled by decree in
Fourth Republic 1987 when a new constitution
(December 30, restoring the presidential system
was approved. In the ensuing
1965 – February legislative election, the pro-Aquino
25, 1986) parties won most of the seats in
Congress.
 Fifth
Republic
(1986–
Present Time)
 The 11th president of the
Philippines and the first
woman to become president
of the country. The political
landscape of the country at
that time did not look any
better. To resolve this,
Aquino commissioned a
President referendum that would be
the framework for the new
Corazon government.
Cojuangco-
Aquino
 Released in February 1987,
the new charter easily won
the approval of the public.
Cory Aquino can be praised
for a notable political reform
made during her tenure that
aimed to decentralize
political power in the
President government - the 1991 Local
Government Code (Mendoza
Corazon and Melegrito 2016)
Cojuangco-
Aquino
 Fidel V. Ramos took office in
1992 and immediately worked on
the country’s recovery and
initiated the Social Reform
Agenda or SRA that was oriented
towards alleviating poverty. He
Fidel V. also led the implementation of
Ramos Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law
which resulted into improved
public infrastructure and
deregulated several industries
that liberalized the economy.
 Under his term, the country also
had improvements in its relations to
secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation
Front or MNLF. He was the first
Asian recipient of UNESCO Peace
Award this effort. He also came to be
Fidel V. known as the ‘Centennial’ President
for his successful supervision of the
Ramos 100th anniversary of the country’s
independence from the Spanish rule
celebrated in June 12, 1998.
 He became the 13th
president in 1998 after
Ramos finished his term.
Estrada was the previous
Joseph mayor in the municipality of
San Juan, Metro Manila and
Ejercito vice president of Ramos.
Estrada
 He gained support in the election
for his promise to begin a pro-
poor administration that his
predecessors failed to promote in
their respective platforms and
Joseph won with a wide margin. This
Ejercito support spiralled down as his
administration was accused with
Estrada corruption. Critics branded him
of failing to live up to his
promises due to the resurfacing
of cronyism in the government.
 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo became
the president after Estrada was
ousted thru People Power 2
uprising. In the 2004 Philippine
National Elections, Arroyo run
Gloria and won the presidential race -
Macapagal she was seated into office for the
second time. Because of this, she
Arroyo became the second longest sitting
president in the country.
 Arroyo pushed for a “Stronger
Republic” geared toward vigorous
economic reforms under her
administration. However, her
administration was bombarded
Gloria with several controversies and
Macapagal impeachment attempts in the
last five years. Discontentment
Arroyo lead to frequent protesters
expressing their disappointment
and had their rallies at the
streets
 He was proclaimed as the 15th
president of the republic on
June 30, 2010. Aquino's 6-
Benigno year term is remembered for
both positive and negative
Simeon events: he has been criticized
for his government's slow
Cojuangco response to help the victims of
Super Typhoon Yolanda, the
Aquino Mamasapano massacre and
other crisis.
 In spite of these negative
impressions, Aquino left the
presidency with a stable
Benigno democracy and a higher credit
rating. Fighting corruption was
Simeon a major objective in his
administration to realize his
Cojuangco election campaign slogan
“Daang Matuwid” or “Straight
Aquino Path” (Mendoza and Melegrito
2016).
 Rodrigo "Digong" Roa Duterte
(a.k.a. Rody) takes oath as the
16th president of the Philippines
at Malacanang Palace in Manila
at 12 noon, June 30, 2016.
Rodrigo Duterte is a lawyer and
"Digong" Roa politician; he is the former mayor
and former 1st district
Duterte congressman of Davao City in
Mindanao -an island in the
southern Philippines where
Muslim insurgents are based.
 He is the first president to come
from Mindanao. Duterte is
clamouring for a change in the
constitution from a presidential
to a federal form of government.
Rodrigo Duterte won the presidential race
"Digong" Roa as an outspoken, strong-willed
crime fighter. He is however
Duterte criticized for his alleged support
of vigilante groups involved in
extra-judicial killings to fight
crime.
 On May 9, 2022 elections,
Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr.
run for President together with
Sara Zimmerman Duterte-
Carpio, the daughter of
Ferdinand President Duterte as vice-
Romualdez president. Marcos Jr., & Sara
Duterte won by a large margin.
Marcos, Jr. Marcos, Jr. and Sara Duterte
was sworn-in as president &
vice-president on June 30,
2022.