Rolex 12
Encyclopedia
Rolex 12 is the collective name of twelve of the closest and most powerful advisers of President Ferdinand Marcos
during the martial law years in the Philippines
from 1972 to 1981.
During the latter years of his second elected term, Marcos conspired with various leaders of the military and Philippine Constabulary
. The goal was for Marcos to gain full authoritarian control of the country during his declaration of martial law in 1972. Marcos gave the military leadership powers during martial law, taking over from democratically elected officials and court judges.
The twelve were responsible for many human rights
atrocities, although the extent of their responsibility is still being investigated. These atrocities include torture, murder, seizures of property, displacement from homes, and arrest and detention without due process.
The origin of the name Rolex 12 came from a widespread story and some sources that each associate received a Rolex
watch from Marcos himself, although this is allegedly proven to be untrue. Others, however, would pursue the argument that Marcos provided them with watches that appear to be Rolex watches but were actually fakes. Historically, each member was just given an ordinary watch by Marcos. But because of the story, the name Rolex 12 stuck and is still used to refer to these twelve Marcos associates. Some of them fled with Marcos when he and his family left the Philippines in 1986.
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
during the martial law years in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
from 1972 to 1981.
During the latter years of his second elected term, Marcos conspired with various leaders of the military and Philippine Constabulary
Philippine Constabulary
The Philippine Constabulary ' was the oldest of four service commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was a gendarmerie type para-military police force of the Philippines established in 1901 by the United States-appointed administrative authority replacing the Guardia Civil...
. The goal was for Marcos to gain full authoritarian control of the country during his declaration of martial law in 1972. Marcos gave the military leadership powers during martial law, taking over from democratically elected officials and court judges.
The twelve were responsible for many human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
atrocities, although the extent of their responsibility is still being investigated. These atrocities include torture, murder, seizures of property, displacement from homes, and arrest and detention without due process.
The origin of the name Rolex 12 came from a widespread story and some sources that each associate received a Rolex
Rolex
Rolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
watch from Marcos himself, although this is allegedly proven to be untrue. Others, however, would pursue the argument that Marcos provided them with watches that appear to be Rolex watches but were actually fakes. Historically, each member was just given an ordinary watch by Marcos. But because of the story, the name Rolex 12 stuck and is still used to refer to these twelve Marcos associates. Some of them fled with Marcos when he and his family left the Philippines in 1986.
Members of the "Rolex 12"
- Tomas Diaz, PMA-Cl '51 - Vice Chief of the Philippine ConstabularyPhilippine ConstabularyThe Philippine Constabulary ' was the oldest of four service commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was a gendarmerie type para-military police force of the Philippines established in 1901 by the United States-appointed administrative authority replacing the Guardia Civil...
- Juan Ponce EnrileJuan Ponce EnrileJuan Ponce Enrile is a Filipino politician. As a protege of President Ferdinand Marcos, he served as Justice Secretary and then Defense Secretary under the Marcos regime. He later became one of the leaders of the 1986 People Power Movement that drove Marcos from power...
- Minister of Defense - Romeo Espino UP-ROTC - Chief of StaffChief of StaffThe title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) - Romeo Gatan - Chief of the Philippine Constabulary in Rizal Province
- Alfredo Montoya, PMA Cl-'51 -Chief of the Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command (METROCOM)
- Ignacio Paz, PMA Cl-'51 - Chief of the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP)
- Fidel V. RamosFidel V. RamosFidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...
, USMA Cl-'50; Honorary PMA Cl-51 -Chief of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) - Jose Rancudo - Chief of the Philippine Air ForcePhilippine Air ForceThe Philippine Air Force is the air force of the Republic of the Philippines, and one of the three main services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas....
(PAF) - Hilario Ruiz -Chief of the Philippine NavyPhilippine NavyThe Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines"....
(PN) - Rafael Zagala -Chief of the Philippine Army (PA)
- Fabian VerFabian VerFabian C. Ver was a General and Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos...
, Honorary-PMA Cl '51 - Chief of National Intelligence Security Authority (NISA) http://www.lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo1987/eo_246_1987.html - Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, Jr.Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr.Eduardo Murphy Cojuangco, Jr. , also known as Danding Cojuangco, is the chairman of San Miguel Corporation, the largest food and beverage corporation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, former Philippine ambassador, and former governor of Tarlac. In 2005, his personal wealth was estimated at...
, Honorary PMA Cl-'51 - present Chairman of San Miguel CorporationSan Miguel CorporationEstablished in 1890 as a brewery, San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia's largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company with over 17,000 employees in over 100 major facilities throughout the Asia-Pacific....
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