POST-PRESIDENCY
1949 Presidential Election
On October 17, the Japanese forces surrendered to the United States. Gen. Douglas MacArthur ordered Laurel arrested for collaborating with the Japanese. In 1946 he was charged with 132 counts of treason, but was never brought to trial due to the general amnesty granted by President Manuel Roxas in 1948. Laurel ran for president against ElpidioQuirino in 1949 but lost in what was then considered by Carlos P. Romulo and Marvin M. Gray as the dirtiest election in Philippine electoral history.
Return to the Senate
Laurel was elected to the Senate in 1951, under the Nacionalista Party. He was urged upon to run for President in 1953, but he declined, working instead for the successful election of Ramon Magsaysay. Magsaysay
appointed Laurel head of a mission tasked with negotiating trade and other issues with United States officials, the result being known as the Laurel–Langley Agreement.
Retirement and Death
Laurel considered his election to the Senate as a vindication of his reputation. He declined to run for re-election in 1957. He retired from public life, concentrating on the development of the Lyceum of the Philippines established by his family.
After the sudden death of President Magsaysay in March 1957, Laurel suggested to then Congressman Ferdinand Marcos to propose to Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson for the latter to run as President and the former as Lacson's Vice President. However, the immensely popular Lacson turned down the offer to run against Carlos P. Garcia despite Laurel's pledged support. Marcos, in turn, ran only for President in 1965.
During his retirement, Laurel stayed in a 3-story, 7-bedroom mansion dubbed as "Villa Pacencia", erected in 1957 at Mandaluyong and named after Laurel's wife. The home was one of three residences constructed by the Laurel family, the other two being located in Tanauan and in Paco, Manila (called "Villa Peñafrancia). In 2008, the Laurel family sold "Villa Pacencia" to Senate President Manny Villar and his wife Cynthia.
On November 6, 1959, Laurel died at the Lourdes Hospital, in Manila, from a massive heart attack and a stroke. He is buried in Tanuan.
On October 17, the Japanese forces surrendered to the United States. Gen. Douglas MacArthur ordered Laurel arrested for collaborating with the Japanese. In 1946 he was charged with 132 counts of treason, but was never brought to trial due to the general amnesty granted by President Manuel Roxas in 1948. Laurel ran for president against ElpidioQuirino in 1949 but lost in what was then considered by Carlos P. Romulo and Marvin M. Gray as the dirtiest election in Philippine electoral history.
Return to the Senate
Laurel was elected to the Senate in 1951, under the Nacionalista Party. He was urged upon to run for President in 1953, but he declined, working instead for the successful election of Ramon Magsaysay. Magsaysay
appointed Laurel head of a mission tasked with negotiating trade and other issues with United States officials, the result being known as the Laurel–Langley Agreement.
Retirement and Death
Laurel considered his election to the Senate as a vindication of his reputation. He declined to run for re-election in 1957. He retired from public life, concentrating on the development of the Lyceum of the Philippines established by his family.
After the sudden death of President Magsaysay in March 1957, Laurel suggested to then Congressman Ferdinand Marcos to propose to Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson for the latter to run as President and the former as Lacson's Vice President. However, the immensely popular Lacson turned down the offer to run against Carlos P. Garcia despite Laurel's pledged support. Marcos, in turn, ran only for President in 1965.
During his retirement, Laurel stayed in a 3-story, 7-bedroom mansion dubbed as "Villa Pacencia", erected in 1957 at Mandaluyong and named after Laurel's wife. The home was one of three residences constructed by the Laurel family, the other two being located in Tanauan and in Paco, Manila (called "Villa Peñafrancia). In 2008, the Laurel family sold "Villa Pacencia" to Senate President Manny Villar and his wife Cynthia.
On November 6, 1959, Laurel died at the Lourdes Hospital, in Manila, from a massive heart attack and a stroke. He is buried in Tanuan.