The laws of the first Philippine Republic (the laws of Malolos) 1898-1899. / Compiled & edited by Sulpicio Guevara.

DECREE OF JUNE 23, 1898

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3A. Decree of June 23, 1898, establishing the Revolutionary
Government*. (English translation)
Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, President of the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines and Commander-in-Chief of its Army.
This Government in its desire to prove to the Filipino people that one
of its aims is to combat with firm resolution the inveterate vices of the
Spanish administration, replacing its irresponsible and pompous ostentation of doing things with a much more modest, simple and expeditious
manner of discharging public functions; I hereby decree the following:
Chapter I
Of the Revolutionary Government
Article 1. The Dictatorial Government shall henceforth be called
Revolutionary Government, the object of which is to fight for the Independence of the Philippines until all free nations, including Spain, expressly recognize her, and to prepare the country to become a true Republic.
The Dictator shall henceforth be called President of the Revolutionary
Government.
Art. 2. Four Department Secretaryships are hereby created. One
of Foreign Relations, Marine and Commerce; another of War and
Public Works; another of Police and Internal Peace and Order, Justice,
Education and Hygiene; and another of Finance, Agriculture and Industry.
The number of the Department Secretaryships may be increased if
it be found that they are inadequate to cope with the multiple and complicated problems of public service.
Art. 3. Each Department Secretaryship shall help the President
in the proper discharge of the affairs pertaining to each.
Each Department shall be headed by a Secretary who shall not be
responsible for the Decrees issued by the President; however, he shall
sign them, with the President, in order to give evidence of their authenticity.
However, if the Decree is issued at the proposal of a Department
Secretary, he shall be responsible jointly with the President.
Art. 4. The Department of Foreign Relations shall have 3 Bureaus:
one of Diplomacy; another, of Marine; and another, of Commerce.
The first Bureau shall study and direct all those matters pertaining to diplomatic negotiations with foreign powers as well as the correspondence of this Government with them; the second, shall study all mat* Translated from Tagalog by the author.