The Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence or the PCPI was the drafting body of the 1943 Philippine Constitution during the

Japanese Occupation of the Philippines The Japanese occupation of the Philippines (Filipino: ''Pananakop ng mga Japones sa Filipinas''; ja, 日本のフィリピン占領, Nihon no Firipin Senryō) occurred between 1942 and 1945, when Imperial Japan occupied the Commonwealth of the ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. The constitution was signed and unanimously approved on September 4, 1943 by its members and was then ratified by a popular convention of the

KALIBAPI The Kapisanan ng Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas (''Association for Service to the New Philippines''), or KALIBAPI, was a fascist Filipino political party that served as the sole party of state during the Japanese occupation. It was intended t ...

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

on September 7, 1943.

Background

In mid-1942, Japanese Premier

Hideki Tōjō Hideki Tojo (, ', December 30, 1884 – December 23, 1948) was a Japanese politician, general of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), and convicted war criminal who served as prime minister of Japan and president of the Imperial Rule Assista ...

had promised the Filipinos "the honor of independence" which meant that the committee would be supplanted by a formal republic. The PCPI was welcomed by some, especially by Filipino nationalists who had long-awaited of a "Genuine Asiatic independence". The PCPI was composed, in large part, of members of the prewar Philippine National Assembly and of individuals with experience as delegates to the convention that had drafted the 1935 Philippine Constitution. The 1943 draft constitution was limited in duration; provided for indirect election of the legislature; and a stronger executive branch.

Leadership

Presidents

* José P. Laurel * Elpidio R. Quirino

Vice Presidents

* Benigno Aquino, Sr. * Ramon Avanceña

Other members

* Jorge B. Vargas *

Antonio de las Alas Antonio de las Alas (October 14, 1889 – October 5, 1983) was a Filipino politician and business leader. Biography Antonio de las Alas was a three-term representative of the 1st district of Batangas in the Philippine Legislature and a member ...

* Emilio Aguinaldo * Claro M. Recto * Quintin Paredes *

José Yulo José Yulo Yulo (September 24, 1894 – October 27, 1976) was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines (May 7, 1942 – July 9, 1945) during the Japanese Occupation and was Speaker of the National Assembly of the Philippines fr ...

Vicente Madrigal Vicente María Epifanio López Madrigal (born Vicente María Epifanio Madrigal y López; April 5, 1880 – June 6, 1972) was a successful Spanish Filipino business tycoon, industrialist and politician. At the height of his wealth, from the 1950s ...

* Manuel Roxas * Sa Ramain (Alauya Alonto) * Emiliano Tria Tirona *

Melecio Arranz Melecio Arranz (May 23, 1888 – April 24, 1966) was a Filipino politician, born in Alcala, Cagayan. Early life and career He obtained his degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Santo Tomas The Univers ...

Camilo Osías Camilo Olaviano Osías, Sr. (born Camilo Osías y Olaviano; March 23, 1889 – May 20, 1976) was a Filipino politician, twice for a short time President of the Senate of the Philippines. Along with a certain American named Mary A. Lane, Osías ...

* Rafael Alunan *

Pedro Sabido Senator Pedro Sabido (born October 19, 1894, Polangui, Albay, Philippines – February 3, 1980) was born to Don Juan D. Sabido and Doña Maximina Ribaya. Early life and education He attended his elementary and high school studies at the Semina ...

* Teofilo Sison * Manuel C. Briones

Drafting

External links

* * {{Authority control Political history of the Philippines History of the Congress of the Philippines Philippines in World War II 1943 establishments in the Philippines Organizations established in 1943