Puppet or patriot? The legacy of Jose P. Laurel

Jose P. Laurel served as president of the Philippines under Japanese occupation during World War II, one of the darkest periods in the country’s history.

Though he was accused of being a Japanese collaborator, Laurel’s actions during his presidency, however, showed otherwise, according to history professors who were interviewed in Gail Cayetano’s report on Stand for Truth’s Presidente series.  

“The Japanese could not control him. So I think it’s a very big injustice na sinasabi ng mga textbook na [that the textbooks claim that he led a] puppet government,” said Ricardo Jose, a professor at the history department of the University of the Philippines Diliman.

“He was definitely never a puppet.”

The report said Laurel pushed for the use of the Filipino language and established the food agency, Bigasang Bayan, among other initiatives. 

Watch the report to know more about Laurel, who was president from October 1943 to August 1945.  — Richa Noriega/VBL, GMA News