Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):
September 25, 1945
President Sergio Osmeña signed Commonwealth Act No. 682 on September 25, 1945 which is an act creating a People's Court and an Office of Special Prosecutors for the prosecution and trial of crimes against National Security committed during the Second World War, and for other purposes.
The law provides the necessary machinery to deal with political offenders with utmost dispatch and with the guarantees essential to a fair and impartial hearing.
One of its features is that those who served the puppet governments during the Japanese occupation are disqualified from appointment to the People’s Court and the Office of Special Prosecutors.
The jurisdiction of this Court is not limited to the political prisoners who are now being turned over by the United States Army to the Commonwealth, but to all persons charged with similar crimes against our national security.
This law assured the Filipino people and the whole world that all who are accused of collaboration with the enemy will be tried by the processes of law and justice, which are as firmly established in the Philippines as they are elsewhere in the civilized world.
The People’s Court will carry out its judicial tasks without fear and without favor, and that it will punish the guilty and exonerate the innocent.
Many were arrested and charged with treason after the law was passed. On January 28, 1948, President Manuel Roxas granted amnesty to all Filipinos who collaborated with the Empire of Japan. Among those given amnesty were prominent leaders Jose P. Laurel, Emilio Aguinaldo and Artemio Ricarte.
(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved
Photo credit: awm.gov.au
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