President of the Philippines

The President of the Philipines is the head of state and of the government of the Republic of the Philippines. The president heads the Executive branch of the government, which includes the Cabinet, and is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The current President of the Philipines is Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Presidents

The Philippines has had a total of fourteen presidents. Despite the differences in constitutions and government, the line of presidents is considered to be continuous. For instance, the current president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is considered the 14th president. While the Philippines consider Emilio Aguinaldo to be the first president, the First Republic fell under the United States following the Philippine-American War. Manuel L. Quezon is considered to be the first president by the United States and the first to win an election.

Related Topics:
Constitutions - Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo - Philippine-American War - Manuel L. Quezon

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The Philippines had two presidents at one point during WW2 heading two governments. One was Quezon heading the Commonwealth government-in-exile (considered de jure) and the other was J. P. Laurel heading the Japanese-sponsored republic (considered de facto). Laurel was instructed to remain in Manila by President Manuel Quezon. Laurel was not recognized as a Philippine president formally until the Macapagal administration. The recognition coincided with the movement of the Philippine Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. However, it must be borne in mind that in the roster of presidents, it is inaccurate to consider Laurel the successor of Osmeña or vice versa; Laurel's republic was formally rejected after World War II and none of its statutes or actions were considered legal or binding. The inclusion of Laurel causes some problems in determining the order of presidents. Quezon, Osmena, and Roxas, for example, were three of a continuous constitutional line; Laurel was the first and only President of the Second Republic. Thus, Laurel has no predecessor and successor, while Osmena was Quezon's successor and Roxas was Osmena's successor.

Related Topics:
De jure - De facto

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First Philippine Republic (1899–1901)

• Emilio Aguinaldo : 1899–1901 The first president.

Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935–1946)

• Manuel Luis Quezon : 1935–1944 (died from Tuberculosis)
• Sergio Osmeña : 1944–1946 (assumed the presidency on Quezon's death)
• Manuel Roxas : 1946

Second Republic (1943–1945)

• Jose P. Laurel : 1943–1945

Third Republic (1946–1973)

• Manuel Roxas : 1946–1948 (died from a heart attack)
• Elpidio Quirino : 1948–1949 (assumed the presidency on Roxas' death), 1949–1953
• Ramon Magsaysay : 1953–1957 (died in a plane crash)
• Carlos P. Garcia : 1957 (assumed the presidency on Magsaysay's death), 1957–1961
• Diosdado Macapagal : 1961–1965
• Ferdinand E. Marcos : 1965–1969, 1969–1972 (proclaimed martial law, September 22-23, 1972)

Fourth Republic (1973–1986)

• Ferdinand E. Marcos : 1972–1981, Fourth Republic 1981–1986, New Republic, (1973 constitution in effect, deposed)

Fifth Republic (1987–Present)- People Power Republic

• Corazon C. Aquino : 1986–1992 (1987 constitution)
• Fidel V. Ramos : 1992–1998
• Joseph Ejercito Estrada : 1998–2001 (deposed by Supreme Court) 1998–2004 (supposed tenure)
• Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo : 2001–2004 (assumed the presidency on Supreme Court approval ), 2004–2010 (elected tenure)