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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-26/leyte-restored.avif" alt="General Douglas MacArthur with Sergio Osmeña, Sr" loading="lazy"/>
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(General Douglas MacArthur speaks at the microphone during the Leyte liberation ceremonies in Tacloban City on October 23, 1944. Standing just behind him is Philippine President Sergio Osmeña Sr.)
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<h2>
MacArthur's Return and the Leyte Landings
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The road to restoration began on October 20, 1944, when the U.S. Sixth Army under Lieutenant General Walter Krueger launched the invasion of Leyte Island. The amphibious assault involved nearly 700 ships transporting 174,000 troops in what became one of the largest operations of the Pacific War. General MacArthur, accompanied by Philippine President <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1273/today-in-philippine-history-september-9-1878-sergio-osme-a-sr-was-born-in-cebu-city" class="news_link">Sergio Osmeña, Sr.</a>, waded ashore at Red Beach in the early afternoon of October 20, delivering his famous radio address: 
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"People of the Philippines, I have returned! By the grace of Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil."
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Alongside MacArthur and Osmeña were key figures including Brigadier General <a href="https://kahimyang.com/articles/3265/the-diplomatic-brilliance-of-carlos-p-romulo" class="news_link">Carlos P. Romulo</a>, Lieutenant Generals <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Kenney" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">George C. Kenney</a> and Richard K. Sutherland, and General <a href="https://kahimyang.com/articles/3256/today-in-filipino-history-july-10-1892-basilio-pica-valdes-was-born-in-san-miguel-manila" class="news_link">Basilio J. Valdes</a>. The initial landings were remarkably successful, with minimal Japanese resistance as enemy forces had chosen to defend from inland positions rather than contest the beaches.
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<h2>
The Restoration Ceremony
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The 1st Cavalry Division secured Tacloban, the provincial capital of Leyte, on October 21, 1944. Two days later, on October 23, General MacArthur convened a ceremony at the provincial capitol building to formally restore civil government to the liberated Philippines. The event took place in front of the capitol, with American and Filipino military officers, government officials, and local residents in attendance.
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At the ceremony, MacArthur issued a proclamation that declared three fundamental principles: 
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First, that the Commonwealth government, subject to the supreme authority of the United States, was the sole government with legal jurisdiction over liberated areas of the Philippines. 
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Second, that all Commonwealth laws and regulations remained in full force and effect. Third, that all laws and processes of any other government - meaning the Japanese-sponsored Philippine Executive Commission and Second Philippine Republic - were null and void in liberated territories.
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In his address, MacArthur proclaimed: 
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"On behalf of my government, I restore to you a constitutional administration by countrymen of your confidence and choice. As our forces advance, I shall in like manner restore the other Philippine cities and provinces throughout the entire land."
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President Sergio Osmeña, Sr., who had assumed the presidency following the death of <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1265/today-in-philippine-history-august-19-1878-manuel-quezon-was-born-in-baler-aurora" class="news_link">Manuel L. Quezon</a> from tuberculosis on August 1, 1944, delivered remarks following MacArthur's proclamation. The ceremony marked the end of the Philippine Commonwealth government-in-exile, which had operated from Washington, D.C., since May 1942.
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October 23, 1944: the Philippine Commonwealth was restored in Leyte