Joe Dizon

Jose Pacturayan Dizon (September 29, 1948 – November 4, 2013),^[1] better known as Father Joe Dizon (often written as Fr. Joe Dizon), was an activist priest in the Philippines who fought against the dictatorship of then President Ferdinand Marcos.^[2]

Dizon led protest actions against government corruption and human rights abuses during martial law in the Philippines,^[1] political dynasties,^[2] and the pork barrel system.^[3][4] At protest rallies against the Marcos dictatorship, he would say mass to prevent violent dispersal by the government and to boost the morale of demonstrators.^[1] He actively campaigned for honest elections and helped form people’s organizations in rural areas to support those dealing with land grabbing, military abuses, and hamletting.^[1]

He was spokesperson for the Estrada Resign Movement and Plunder Watch, which were instrumental in the EDSA 2 people’s uprising that deposed then President Joseph Estrada. He also headed a movement to oust Estrada's successor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on allegations of corruption, electoral fraud, and human rights violations.^[2]

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chairperson Dr. Carol Araullo described him as "an example of a progressive priest, an undisguised Leftist, a national democrat since the darkest years of martial law who was able to relate to and bring into broad alliances even avowed anti-Left personalities such as conservative bishops, traditional politicians, the upper crust of society over popular issues."^[3]

He was "a shining example of a man-of-the-cloth who transcended the traditional role of a priest in Philippine society" whose lifelong mantra was "Sandigan ang masa; paglingkuran ang sambayanan" ("Rely on the masses; serve the people").^[2]

He died of complications from diabetes at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute on November 12, 2013 at the age of 65.^[5][6]

Dizon was awarded the Tji Hak-Soon Justice and Peace Award in South Korea.^[3] His name was added to the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Wall of Remembrance on November 30, 2017.^[7]

Organizing fellow priests and nuns, 1960s

In the 1960s, he headed the Basic Christian Community-Community Organizing, a Catholic church program. He would later organize priests and nuns to push for the Church’s social justice agenda by convening the Solidarity Philippines and Clergy Discernment Group, an organization of priests and nuns.^[8]

Political work during martial law

Dizon supported workers and campaigned for their right to organize unions, which were banned under the dictatorship.^[1] He led the Basic Christian Communities-Community Organizing in forming people’s organizations in rural areas to fight abuses by the military, land grabbing, and hamletting (forced relocation).^[1]

Dizon provided facilities for secret meetings by the underground opposition and later became a key figure in organizations that openly protested the dictatorship.^[1] He became active in the Justice for Aquino and Justice for All movement to protest the 1983 assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr. During rallies, he would conduct mass to prevent violent dispersal by the government.^[1]

Through the Church-Labor and Church-Peasant conferences, he brought social issues to the attention of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.^[1] He also became co-conventor of Solidarity Philippines and Clergy Discernment Group, an organization of priests and nuns, and election watchdog Kontra Daya.^[8]

See also

• Religious sector resistance against the Marcos dictatorship
• Bantayog ng mga Bayani

References