The Municipal Government of the Philippines During Spanish Period
Loading ...Below the provincial government was the municipal government. Each municipality or town was headed by the gobernadorcillo (little governor), popularly known as capitan. This was the highest government office held by a native. In the administration of each town, the gobernadorcillo was assisted by four deputies called tenientes, a chief of police, and subordinate officials called alguaciles.
The four deputies were the following;
1. Teniente mayor – chief lieutenant
2. Teniente de policia – police lieutenant
3. Teniente de sementras – lieutenant of the fields
4. Teniente de ganados – lieutenant of cattle
The gobernadorcillo was, in the beginning, elected for a term of one year by all the married men in each town. Late in the nineteenth century, however, he was elected by a board of electors composed of the outgoing gobernadorcillo and twelve cabezas de barangay (barangay heads). The parish priest and the provincial governor or his representative presided over the election. The result of the election had to be approved by the local parish priest. It was usually the man chosen by the parish priest who was elected since he exerted great influence in local elections. If approved, the name of the winning candidate was sent to the provincial governor, who in turn forwarded it to the office of the governor-general in Manila for final approval.
To qualify for the office of the gobernadorcillo, one had to be a Filipino of at least 25 years of ages, must know how to read and write Spanish, and must have been a teniente mayor or a cabeza de barangay.
The barrios or barangays of which each town was composed, were each headed by a cabeza de barangay. He was appointed by the gobernadorcillo from among the former datus or the gobernadorcillo’s relatives. His most important duty was to collect taxes from the barrio inhabitants.
The town and barangay officials had no salary. Their positions were honorary. They and their families were, however, exempted from paying tributes and were considered members of the principalia (leading citizens).
