Possible reasons for believing that he is a hero:

1. Laurel did not, by his own free will, accept the occupation of the Japanese and its power; he made
decisions that were for the greater good of the citizens. It was a mock collaboration, so to speak, to keep
the Japanese from venting their anger to the innocent citizens.
2. The Executive Commission was ready to obey the orders of the Japanese Army for the maintenance of
peace and order and the promotion of well being of our people. From this, it is inferable that the
government was just trying to protect the people and not to sell them out to the invaders.
3. Laurel only wanted to lighten the blow that could wound all citizens and thus make him a patriot for
having the foresight to shield the people from danger, torture and even, death.
4. The Quezon Administration gave an implied order to Laurel when he ordered him to do whatever it
would take to protect the welfare of the Filipino people.
5. Laurel, when he became president of the Japanese funded government, decided to try and alter the
constitution of the Philippines as well as the people of his country to Japanese standards.
Possible reasons for believing that he is a traitor:
1. He did not make any retaliation against the Japanese Government when they occupied the Philippines.
Laurel would love to collaborate with the Japanese to attain its main goal that he wanted to lead the
country.
2. He did not refuse to declare a war against the United States as ordered by the Japanese Government.
3. The mere fact that the he couldnt offer his life to defend our country during the war disqualifies him to
be considered as a hero. He chose to be controlled by the Japanese government in running our country
during those times.
4. Jose P. Laurel would be more powerful and influential with the side of the Japanese government. This
will satisfy his political will, and that is to be the leader of a new independent country- that is the
Philippines.
5. He admired many things about Japanese society like its domestic tranquility and its system of
education which is focused on service to the state.
It was a difficult time for him. While our country was struggling for independence, he tried to channel a
peace treaty between the Philippines and Japan but when the Japanese surrendered, General McArthur
ordered Laurel to be arrested for treason because he collaborated with the Japanese. This event led us to
this classical issue, which every Filipino must know.
Jos P. Laurel's presidency is controversial. He was officially the government's caretaker during the
Japanese occupation of World War II. Criticized as a traitor by some, his indictment for treason was
superseded later by an amnesty proclamation in 1948.
Contributions and Achievements:

since the early 1960s, Laurel considered a legitimate president of the Philippines

organized KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas, or Association for Service

to the New Philippines), a provisional government during Japanese occupation

declared Martial Law and war between the Philippines and the U.S./United Kingdom in 1944

with his family, established the Lyceum of the Philippines