Bonifacio Gillego

Bonifacio Hubilla Gillego (June 5, 1921 – August 1, 2002) was a Philippine politician, military officer, and author. He served in the Philippine House of Representatives for three terms (1987–1998), representing the 2nd Legislative District of Sorsogon.[1] "Boni" was one of the Framers of the 1987 Constitution.[2] He had also served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1970.[3]

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Hubilla and the surname or paternal family name is Gillego.
Bonifacio H. Gillego
Detail of the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, showing names from the 2002 batch of Bantayog Honorees, including that of Congressman Gillego.
Member of House of Representatives of the Philippines from Sorsogon's 2nd congressional district
In office
June 30, 1987 – June 30, 1998
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byRodolfo F. Gonzales
Personal details
Born
Bonifacio Hubilla Gillego

(1921-06-05)June 5, 1921
Bulan, Sorsogon, Philippine Islands
DiedAugust 1, 2002(2002-08-01) (aged 81)
Political partyLaban ng Demokratikong Pilipino
SpouseDolores Perez Gillego
Children7
Alma materFar Eastern University Johns Hopkins University
Profession
  • Lawyer
  • Writer
  • Politician
Military service
AllegiancePhilippines
Rank Colonel
Major Major
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War

For his resistance against the Marcos dictatorship, which led to a 14-year exile from the country, Gillego is one of the heroes honored by having his name etched at the wall of remembrance at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors the martyrs and heroes who fought the authoritarian regime of Ferdinand Marcos.[4]

Background

Gillego earned his degrees in English and Philosophy at the Far Eastern University in Manila in 1950. He earned a master's degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies as an Armed Forces of the Philippines Scholar.[5] His eldest sister, Celerina Gotladera, served as the Chairman of Civil Service Commission and Mayor of Bulan, Sorsogon.[6] He is a cousin of Gregorio Honasan.

Military career

He was also part of the resistance during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. As a soldier, Gillego served in the Korean War and served in Operation Brotherhood in Laos.[4]

Marcos Era: Exile and Resistance

Gillego was exiled in the United States for 14 years during Martial Law. He was one of the leaders of the opposition to Marcos in the United States[7] and was a member of the Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP) during his exile.[8] Gillego was often interviewed by American Press and Western media to expose Marcos' fraud, particularly with his military medal decorations.[9] Through his writings and countless interviews with the American press, Gillego publicly questioned Marcos' war record.[10] In 1986, he served on the Commission on Good Government[11] on behalf of President Corazon Aquino to find real estate holdings of the Marcoses in New York.[12][13]

Congress

As a Congressman, "Boni" was known for his spartan lifestyle and stance against government corruption.[14] One of his great accomplishments in Congress was agrarian reform legislation passed in June 1988.[15]

Books and articles
  • Requiem for Reformism: The Ideas of Rizal on Reform and Revolution (1990)[16]
  • "The Other Version of FM's War Exploits". We Forum (November 1982)[17]
  • "Marcos: The Hero of Kiangan Who Never Was". Philippine News (September 1982)[18]
  • "Our Police Forces as a Tool of American Imperialism". Ronin (October 1972)[19]

References
  1. "Bonifacio Gillego (1921–2002): The Major Who Asked Why | Newsbreak | Independent Journalism". Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  2. "Politics of convenience, ironies and tragedy: The Bulan town experience". BICOL TODAY. Archived from the original on April 27, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  3. Franco, Jennifer Conroy (2001). Elections and Democratization in the Philippines. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780815337348.
  4. "Martyrs and Heroes: Gillego, Bonifacio". bantayog.org. May 16, 2016. Archived from the original on May 20, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  5. "gillego". mekongcircle.homestead.com. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  6. junasun (July 7, 2009). "Part I: The Mayor Behind The Mayor". Bulan Observer. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  7. Peña, Fernando (September 26, 2015). "Why raps filed vs anti-Marcos freedom fighters in US". globalnation.inquirer.net. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  8. "gillego". mekongcircle.homestead.com. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  9. "Newspaper shut for questioning Marcos war record". UPI. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  10. Times, Pamela G. Hollie, Special to the New York (December 8, 1982). "MANILA NEWSPAPER CLOSED BY MARCOS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 24, 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. Times, Jeff Gerth, Special to the New York (March 9, 1986). "MANILA HAS DATA ON MARCOS HOLDINGS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 24, 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. Weintraub, Richard M.; Weintraub, Richard M. (July 12, 1986). "Calls Linked to Marcoses in Hawaii". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  13. Johnson, Kirk (May 22, 1986). "MANILA PANEL SEEKING MARCOS ASSETS IS FAULTED BY SOME OVER ITS LAWYERS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  14. "Bonifacio Gillego (1921–2002): The Major Who Asked Why | Newsbreak | Independent Journalism". Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  15. Timberman, David G. (January 1, 1991). A Changeless Land: Continuity and Change in Philippine Politics. Institute of Southeast Asian. ISBN 9789813035867.
  16. Gillego, Bonifacio H (1990). Requiem for reformism: the ideas of Rizal on reform and revolution. Sampaloc, Manila: Wall Street Communication & Marketing. OCLC 24141539.
  17. McCoy, Alfred W. (2002). Closer Than Brothers: Manhood at the Philippine Military Academy. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300173911.
  18. "MARCOS FAKE MEDALS REDUX (Part I)". asianjournalusa.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  19. Alagappa, Muthiah (2001). Coercion and Governance: The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804742276.
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