Roxas, Manuel

Roxas, Manuel (mänwĕl` rō`häs), 1894–1948, Philippine statesman, b. Capiz, Panay. In 1921 he was elected to the Philippine house of representatives and in the following year he became speaker. After the Commonwealth of the Philippines was established (1935), Roxas became a member of the national assembly, served (1938–41) as secretary of finance in President Manuel Quezon's cabinet, and was elected (1941) to the Philippine senate. In World War II he was captured (1942) by the Japanese invasion forces. Ostensibly a supporter of the Japanese occupation, Roxas participated in the puppet government but was actually an intelligence agent for the Philippine underground. In 1946 he became the first president of the Republic of the Philippines and upon his death was succeeded by Elpidio Quirino.

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Roxas (y Acuna), Manuel

(born Jan. 1, 1892, Capiz, Phil.—died April 15, 1948, Clark Field, Pampanga) First president (1946–48) of the Republic of the Philippines. A lawyer, he began his political career in 1917. An advocate for Philippine independence from the U.S., he was a member of the convention that drew up a constitution under the revised Philippine Independence and Commonwealth Act (Tydings-McDuffie Act; 1934). He collaborated with the pro-Japanese administration during World War II but was defended in postwar trials by Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He became president of the Philippines when independence was achieved (1946). Roxas obtained rehabilitation funds from the U.S. but was forced to allow the U.S. to maintain military bases and make other major concessions. His government was marred by corruption and police brutality, setting the stage for the Hukbalahap Rebellion.