Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

POLITICAL SECTION

123

ernment, but at the same time compared it with the
English system of parliamentary government.
Honorable Honorio Ventura was the last speaker in
the first session of the Political Section. He read the
following paper:
THE KEEPING OF LAW AND ORDER IN OUR
MUNICIPALITIES
By the HON. HONORIO VENTURA,
Secretary, Department of the Interior.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
In studying and considering the elements whose mission it
is in all nations in general and in the Philippine Islands in
particular to maintain the public order, it is necessary, before
and above all, to determine what constitutes the public order.
This has not yet been definitively agreed upon by the authors
on the subject, because while some say that there is no act in
the life of the citizen which has not a bearing upon good
order, others, especially the modern writers, confound the
public order with the public tranquillity and affirm that the
tranquil life of the population, following its habitual occupations without let or hindrance and without any danger threatening its individuals, constitutes the public order. This is to
take the effect for the cause, because that tranquillity does not
constitute the public order but is its result. We consider as
more adequate to the peculiar circumstances of the Philippines
the definition of a Spanish author according to which the
public order consists in each element of society occupying its
proper place, or exercising the functions incumbent upon it
by virtue of natural and positive law, and, hence, in the several
individuals and social groups each occupying its proper station
and performing its duties and exercising its rights in accordance
with existing law.
From this, one understands that public order is the foundation of all social and political organization and consequently of
every nation-or country. Where there is no public order there