PROMINENT PEOPLE DURING MARTIAL LAW

8 PROMINENT PERSONALITIES WHO WERE MARTIAL LAW VICTIMS 8 Prominent

Personalities Who Were Martial Law Victims - 8List.ph
It was often said that September 21st of 1972 will forever be etched in the memory of
Filipinos. How unfortunate we find that to be untrue. For whatever reason, the long
tyrannical rule of Ferdinand Marcos has been trivialized and virtually forgotten by
younger generations of Filipinos.
But just because some of the barracks where the unspeakable horrors of the Martial
Law years took place have now become shopping malls and recreational centers, it
does not mean the atrocities did not happen. Just as these personalities may seem to
have flourishing careers after Martial Law does not mean they did not endure
hardships and cruelty in the hands of lawless perpetrators.
On the 44th year anniversary of the darkest period in our country’s history, we take a
look at 8 prominent personalities you may not know have become martial law victims
during Marcos’ rule.

8. Neri Colmenares
Activist, Human Rights lawyer, former Congressman

Via inquirer.net
Colmenares rose to prominence when he ran for a Senatorial seat in the 2016
Presidential elections. He championed the Social Security pension hike of senior
citizens. He is also known as the uncle of actress Angel Locsin.
Colmenares was also detained and tortured in 1983, and was in jail for four years.
He was only a teenager then, and was one of the youngest political detainees of
Martial rule.
He is an advocate of human rights and is considered as one of the country’s
foremost experts on Universal Jurisdiction, a legal doctrine that permits domestic
courts to try and punish perpetrators of crimes against humanity, regardless of
the nationality of the victims or perpetrators.

7. Satur Ocampo
Journalist, activist, former Congressman

Via youtube.com

Ocampo’s name may ring familiar now because of his columns and protest rallies
he and his fellow Bayan Muna comrades would spearhead. He was also known as
the co-founder of the National Democratic Front.
Ocampo was arrested in 1976, and for nine years he was severely tortured in
various prison camps.
6. Etta Rosales
Former Chair of the Commission on Human Rights

Via alchetron.com

Rosales was known for championing human rights during the term of Benigno
“Noynoy” Aquino III. During the Martial Law years, she was a teacher. She was
abducted and tortured by people who she would later find out to be her students
at the Jose Rizal College. She was electrocuted and sexually abused during her
ordeal.

5. Lino Brocka
Film Director

Via moneymax.ph
Brocka is widely regarded as one of the best Filipino filmmakers of all time. His
films were considered masterpieces and was a reflection of Filipino society during
the Martial Law years. His movies were considered subversive, and as such,
Brocka was arrested in 1984 after landing in Manila from an international film
festival. If it weren’t for the People Power Revolution in 1986, Brocka would have
languished longer in captivity.

4. Joel Lamangan
Film Director

Via interaksyon.com

Lamangan is best known for his movies The Flor Contemplacion Story, Sidhi, and
Mano Po, among others. He was also an actor in the 1990s.
Lamangan was also a student activist during the Martial Law years. He was
arrested in 1977 and endured physical and emotional torture for four years.
3. Pete Lacaba
Poet, Editor, Journalist

Via gmanetwork.com

Not many know that Lacaba is the executive director of Yes! Magazine. His dark
past belies the cheerful, showbiz nature of his magazine. During Martial rule,
Lacaba wrote about the atrocities of the Marcos regime.
In 1974 he was taken to Camp Crame, where he was repeatedly tortured and
humiliated. He recalls without humor that oddly enough, there would be a lunch
break in the middle of 8-hour tortures.
2. Jo Ann Maglipon
Editor of PEP

Via pep.ph

Just like Lacaba, Maglipon’s current endeavor belie her dark past. She is currently
the editor of Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), regarded as the foremost site
for Philippine entertainment news.
At 23 years of age, just a few days before her 24th birthday, Maglipon was
arrested. She celebrated her birthday with inmates who would all later die in the
hands of their tormentors.
1. Ricky Lee
Writer, Author

Via psr.ph

Lee was a shy and quiet writer from the province. Sickly and gangly, Lee was
imprisoned and tortured in 1974, alongside Maglipon and Lacaba. Lee endured
physical and emotional torture. His ordeal was so traumatic that he tried to
commit suicide by slashing his wrist. He laughingly recalls that while in detention,
he caught Marcos on the television announcing that the government was not
holding any political prisoners.
Today Lee is regarded as one of the best writers in the country. He also serves as
mentor to those looking to enrich their craft.