Satur Ocampo
Encyclopedia
Saturnino Cunanan Ocampo (born April 7, 1939) is a former Filipino
partylist representative, journalist, and writer. As party president and first nominee, he led the partylist group Bayan Muna
in three successful elections. He was a member of the House of Representatives
, and Deputy Minority Leader in the 14th Congress of the Philippines
. He has done work in human rights and other areas. After his three terms as congressman, he ran for senator
in the May 2010 elections; together with Representative Liza Maza
of the women's partylist group GABRIELA
, Ocampo became a guest senatorial candidate of the Nacionalista Party
, a mainstream Philippine political party and supported its presidential standard bearer, Senator Manny Villar
. After the elections, on Aug. 21, 2010, Ocampo started a weekly opinion column in the Philippine Star titled "At Ground Level".
declared martial law on September 21, 1972 and Ocampo, among others, went underground. In 1973, Ocampo co-founded the National Democratic Front
, seeking to unite various anti-dictatorship forces.
In 1976, he was arrested and incarcerated as a political prisoner. For the next nine years he was severely tortured in various prison camps. At one point, he shared a cell with detained Philippine Collegian editor-in-chief Abraham Sarmiento, Jr.
Though tried by a military court for rebellion, he was never found guilty. In 1985, while on pass to vote at the National Press Club annual elections, he escaped from the soldiers guarding him and rejoined the underground revolutionary movement.
After the dictatorship fell in 1986, and President Corazon Aquino
called for peace talks and Ocampo headed the NDF peace negotiating panel. When the talks collapsed due to the killing of 18 farmers at a rally near the Malacañang Palace
on January 22, 1987, Ocampo returned to the underground.
In 1989, he was rearrested together with his wife, Carolina Malay. Three years later in 1992, a year after his wife was released, he was freed. Neither was found guilty of any crime.
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...
partylist representative, journalist, and writer. As party president and first nominee, he led the partylist group Bayan Muna
Bayan Muna
Bayan Muna is a leftist political party in the Philippines.The motto of the party is "New Politics, the Politics of Change", against "traditional, elitist, pro-imperialist politics". Its platform includes the advocation of a government that progressively supports the working class, with meaningful...
in three successful elections. He was a member of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
, and Deputy Minority Leader in the 14th Congress of the Philippines
14th Congress of the Philippines
The Fourteenth Congress of the Philippines was the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...
. He has done work in human rights and other areas. After his three terms as congressman, he ran for senator
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
in the May 2010 elections; together with Representative Liza Maza
Liza Maza
Liza Maza is a Filipino activist and development worker. She represents the Gabriela Women's Party in the 13th Congress of the Philippines....
of the women's partylist group GABRIELA
GABRIELA
GABRIELA is a leftist Filipino organization that advocates for women's issues.It is a nationwide network of grassroots organizations, institutions, and programs that address issues such as human rights, poverty, globalization, militarism, violence, health, sex trafficking, censorship and other...
, Ocampo became a guest senatorial candidate of the Nacionalista Party
Nacionalista Party
The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...
, a mainstream Philippine political party and supported its presidential standard bearer, Senator Manny Villar
Manny Villar
Manuel "Manny" Bamba Villar, Jr. is a Filipino businessman and politician. He is currently a Philippine Senator, president of the Nacionalista Party...
. After the elections, on Aug. 21, 2010, Ocampo started a weekly opinion column in the Philippine Star titled "At Ground Level".
Martial law
President Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand 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...
declared martial law on September 21, 1972 and Ocampo, among others, went underground. In 1973, Ocampo co-founded the National Democratic Front
National Democratic Front
National Democratic Front may refer to:*National Democratic Front *National Democratic Front *National Democratic Front *National Democratic Front *National Democratic Front *National Democratic Front...
, seeking to unite various anti-dictatorship forces.
In 1976, he was arrested and incarcerated as a political prisoner. For the next nine years he was severely tortured in various prison camps. At one point, he shared a cell with detained Philippine Collegian editor-in-chief Abraham Sarmiento, Jr.
Abraham Sarmiento, Jr.
Abraham P. Sarmiento, Jr., also known as Ditto Sarmiento was a Filipino student journalist who gained prominence as an early and visible critic of the martial law government of President Ferdinand Marcos...
Though tried by a military court for rebellion, he was never found guilty. In 1985, while on pass to vote at the National Press Club annual elections, he escaped from the soldiers guarding him and rejoined the underground revolutionary movement.
After the dictatorship fell in 1986, and President Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
called for peace talks and Ocampo headed the NDF peace negotiating panel. When the talks collapsed due to the killing of 18 farmers at a rally near the Malacañang Palace
Malacañang Palace
The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. Located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila, the house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every...
on January 22, 1987, Ocampo returned to the underground.
In 1989, he was rearrested together with his wife, Carolina Malay. Three years later in 1992, a year after his wife was released, he was freed. Neither was found guilty of any crime.
External links
- Satur Ocampo official profile from the House of Representatives of the PhilippinesHouse of Representatives of the PhilippinesThe House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
- Satur Ocampo official profile from the Bayan Muna website
- Bayan Muna - official website
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5lPi8GM3XE