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{{Short description|Filipino lawyer and politician}}
{{Short description|Filipino lawyer and politician (1909-1970)}}
{{Philippine name|[[Singson]]|[[Crisologo]]}}
{{Philippine name|[[Singson]]|[[Crisologo]]}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[The Honorable]]
|name = Floro Crisologo
|name = Floro Crisologo
|image = Floro Singson Crisologo.jpg
|image = Floro Singson Crisologo.jpg
Line 15: Line 14:
| predecessor2 = Jesus Serrano
| predecessor2 = Jesus Serrano
| successor2 = Faustino Tobia
| successor2 = Faustino Tobia
| office3 = Member of the [[Vigan]] Municipal Council
| office3 = Member of the [[Vigan]] Municipal Council
| term_start3 = 1934
| term_start3 = 1934
| term_end3 = 1937
| term_end3 = 1937
|birth_date = {{birth date|1910|07|29}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1909|07|29}}
|birth_name = Floro Singson Crisologo
|birth_name = Floro Singson Crisologo
|birth_place = [[Vigan]], [[Ilocos Sur]], Philippines<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->{{efn|The Philippines was a unincorporated territory of the [[United States]] known as the [[Insular Government of the Philippine Islands|Philippine Islands]] at the time of Crisologo's birth.}}
|birth_place = [[Vigan]], [[Ilocos Sur]], Philippines<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->{{efn|The Philippines was a unincorporated territory of the [[United States]] known as the [[Insular Government of the Philippine Islands|Philippine Islands]] at the time of Crisologo's birth.}}
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1970|10|18|1910|07|29}}
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1970|10|18|1909|07|29}}
|death_place = [[Vigan]], [[Ilocos Sur]], Philippines
|death_place = [[Vigan]], [[Ilocos Sur]], Philippines
|spouse = Carmen Pichay
|spouse = Carmen Pichay
Line 27: Line 26:
|occupation = Politician
|occupation = Politician
|profession = Lawyer
|profession = Lawyer
|relations = [[Chavit Singson]] (nephew)<br>[[Jerry Singson]] (nephew)
|relations = [[Chavit Singson]] (nephew)
|party = [[Nacionalista Party|Nacionalista]] (1946-1949, 1965-1970)
|party = [[Nacionalista Party|Nacionalista]] (1946-1949, 1965-1970)
|otherparty = [[Liberal Party (Philippines)|Liberal]] (1949-1965)
|otherparty = [[Liberal Party (Philippines)|Liberal]] (1949-1965)
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| serviceyears = 1941–1945
| serviceyears = 1941–1945
| awards =
| awards =
| battles = [[World War II]]<br />
| battles =
{{tree list}}
* [[World War II]]
*[[Battle of Bessang Pass]]
** [[Battle of Bessang Pass]]
{{tree list/end}}
}}
}}
'''Floro Singson Crisologo''' (29 July 1910<ref name="Congress">{{cite book |title=Official Directory of the House of Representatives (1954-1957) |publisher=Bureau of Printing|orig-date=1955}}</ref> - 18 October 1970) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who represented the [[Ilocos Sur's 1st congressional district|1st district]] of [[Ilocos Sur]] in the [[Philippine Congress]] from 1946 until 1959 and from 1961 until his assassination in 1970.
'''Floro Singson Crisologo''' (July 29, 1909<ref name="Congress">{{cite book |title=Official Directory of the House of Representatives (1954-1957) |publisher=Bureau of Printing|orig-date=1955}}</ref> - October 18, 1970) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who represented the [[Ilocos Sur's 1st congressional district|1st district]] of [[Ilocos Sur]] in the [[Philippine Congress]] from 1946 until 1959 and from 1961 until his assassination in 1970.


==Early life and career==
==Early life==
Floro Singson Crisologo was born on 29 July 1910 in [[Vigan]], [[Ilocos Sur]] to Moisés Crisólogo y de la Peña and Victorina Singson y Pablo. He graduated from the [[University of the Philippines]] in 1933 and was admitted to the Bar shortly after. After setting up his law office in Vigan, he was elected in 1934 to the Municipal Council.<ref name="Congress"/>
Floro Singson Crisologo was born on July 29, 1910 in [[Vigan]], [[Ilocos Sur]] to Moises de la Peña Crisologo and Victorina Pablo Singson. He graduated from the [[University of the Philippines]] in 1933 and was admitted to the Bar on November 6 that year. After setting up his law office in Vigan, he was elected in 1934 to the Municipal Council.<ref name="Congress"/>


==Career==
===World War II===
During the [[Second World War]], Crisologo joined the [[Philippine resistance against Japan|guerrilla movement]] against the Japanese, reaching the rank of Captain. He participated in the [[Battle of Bessang Pass]] in 1945 as a member of the [[USAFIP-NL]]. He also served as Assistant Inspector General and member of the Court Martial of the [[Philippine Army]]'s [[2nd Infantry Division (Philippines)|2nd Infantry Division]].<ref name="Congress"/>
During the [[Second World War]], Crisologo joined the [[Philippine resistance against Japan|guerrilla movement]] against the Japanese, reaching the rank of Captain. He participated in the [[Battle of Bessang Pass]] in 1945 as a member of the [[USAFIP-NL]]. He also served as Assistant Inspector General and member of the Court Martial of the [[Philippine Army]]'s [[2nd Infantry Division (Philippines)|2nd Infantry Division]].<ref name="Congress"/>


==Congressional career==
===Congressional career===
Crisologo's wartime conduct enabled him to get elected to the [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|House of Representatives]] in 1946, where he represented the [[Ilocos Sur's 1st congressional district|1st district]] of [[Ilocos Sur]] and served until he lost reelection to Faustino Tobia in 1957.<ref>{{cite news|title=THE PHILIPPINES: Mecca for Murder|url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,825892,00.html|work=TIME|date=7 September 1959|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> In 1961, he was elected again to the position and served until his assassination in 1970.<ref name="roster">{{cite web|title=ROSTER of Philippine Legislators (from 1907 to 2019)|url=https://hrep-website.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/download/docs/roster-legislators.pdf|accessdate=23 September 2022|work=House of Representatives of the Philippines}}</ref>
Crisologo's wartime conduct enabled him to get elected to the [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|House of Representatives]] in 1946, where he represented the [[Ilocos Sur's 1st congressional district|1st district]] of [[Ilocos Sur]] and served until he lost reelection to Faustino Tobia in 1957.<ref>{{cite news|title=THE PHILIPPINES: Mecca for Murder|url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,825892,00.html|work=TIME|date=7 September 1959|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> In 1961, he was elected again to the position and served until his assassination in 1970.<ref name="roster">{{cite web|title=ROSTER of Philippine Legislators (from 1907 to 2019)|url=https://hrep-website.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/download/docs/roster-legislators.pdf|accessdate=23 September 2022|work=House of Representatives of the Philippines}}</ref>


During his stint in Congress, Crisologo authored several laws such as the ones that established the [[University of Northern Philippines]] and the [[Social Security System (Philippines)|Social Security System]], and the Tobacco Law.<ref name="xiao">{{cite web|last=Chua|first=Xiao|title=XIAO TIME, 23 October 2013: PAGPATAY KAY CONG. FLORO CRISOLOGO SA LOOB NG KATEDRAL NG VIGAN|url=https://xiaochua.net/2013/10/26/xiao-time-23-october-2013-pagpatay-kay-cong-floro-crisologo-sa-loob-ng-katedral-ng-vigan/|date=23 October 2013|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> However, Crisologo became controversial due to his attempts to monopolize the [[Tobacco production in the Philippines|tobacco industry in the province]] by establishing the Farmer's Cooperative Marketing Association (Facoma), which bought the tobacco harvest of the farmers and required all farmers to process their leaves at his drying plant. To enforce this monopoly, he also organized a 300-strong private army, which residents nicknamed the “saka-saka” or the “barefooted,” and whose role was to "tax" trucks filled with tobacco bound for Manila for as much as $100 for each vehicle.<ref name="rappler">{{cite web|last=Cimatu|first=Frank|title=Blood and money, not gold and honey, birthed Solid North|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/blood-money-not-gold-honey-birthed-solid-north-part-2/|work=Rappler|date=26 June 2022|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> He was also embroiled in incidents of political violence such as during the 1965 elections, when he ran into a convoy of his congressional rival Pablo Sanidad and engaged them in a shootout that killed seven people and injured five others.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kreuzer |first=Peter |title= "If You Can't Beat Them, Kill Them": Fatal Violence Against Politicians in the Philippines |url=https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstream/handle/document/75567/ssoar-2021-kreuzer-If_You_Cant_Beat_Them.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y&lnkname=ssoar-2021-kreuzer-If_You_Cant_Beat_Them.pdf |publisher=Peace Research Institute Frankfurt |access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref>
During his stint in Congress, Crisologo authored several laws such as the ones that established the [[University of Northern Philippines]] and the [[Social Security System (Philippines)|Social Security System]], and the Tobacco Law.<ref name="xiao">{{cite web|last=Chua|first=Xiao|title=XIAO TIME, 23 October 2013: PAGPATAY KAY CONG. FLORO CRISOLOGO SA LOOB NG KATEDRAL NG VIGAN|url=https://xiaochua.net/2013/10/26/xiao-time-23-october-2013-pagpatay-kay-cong-floro-crisologo-sa-loob-ng-katedral-ng-vigan/|date=23 October 2013|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> However, Crisologo became controversial due to his attempts to monopolize the [[Tobacco production in the Philippines|tobacco industry in the province]] by establishing the Farmer's Cooperative Marketing Association (Facoma), which bought the tobacco harvest of the farmers and required all farmers to process their leaves at his drying plant. To enforce this monopoly, he also organized a 300-strong private army, which residents nicknamed the “saka-saka” or the “barefooted,” and whose role was to "tax" trucks filled with tobacco bound for Manila for as much as $100 for each vehicle.<ref name="rappler">{{cite web|last=Cimatu|first=Frank|title=Blood and money, not gold and honey, birthed Solid North|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/blood-money-not-gold-honey-birthed-solid-north-part-2/|work=Rappler|date=26 June 2022|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> He was also personally embroiled in incidents of political violence such as during the [[1965 Philippine general election|1965 elections]], when he ran into a convoy of his congressional rival Pablo Sanidad and engaged them in a shootout that killed seven people and injured five others.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kreuzer |first=Peter |title= "If You Can't Beat Them, Kill Them": Fatal Violence Against Politicians in the Philippines |url=https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstream/handle/document/75567/ssoar-2021-kreuzer-If_You_Cant_Beat_Them.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y&lnkname=ssoar-2021-kreuzer-If_You_Cant_Beat_Them.pdf |publisher=Peace Research Institute Frankfurt |access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref>


The atrocities of the ''saka-saka'' later provoked national outrage after they assassinated a former mayor of [[Bantay, Ilocos Sur|Bantay]], next to Vigan, in 1969 and burned the villages of Ora Este and Ora Centro in the same municipality in May 1970,<ref name="rappler"/> in retaliation for their residents’ support for [[Chavit Singson|Luis "Chavit" Singson]], a nephew of Crisologo who became his political rival and had tried to circumvent his uncle's monopoly on tobacco,<ref>{{cite news|title=Tobacco enriches, corrupts northern Philippines|url=https://www.arabnews.com/news/455861|work=Arab News|date=23 June 2013|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> leading to the death of an elderly woman. After his son, [[Vincent Crisologo|Vincent]], was arrested for leading the ''saka-saka'' in these incidents, Crisologo reportedly went to [[Malacañang]] and appealed for help from his ally, President [[Ferdinand Marcos]], while demanding a greater share of rewards that Marcos had promised him in exchange for supporting his [[1969 Philippine presidential election |presidential reelection campaign in 1969]]. When Marcos refused, Crisologo reportedly then threatened to expose Marcos's role and that of his cousin [[Fabian Ver]] in cornering the tobacco monopoly in the [[Ilocos Region]].<ref name="rappler"/>
The atrocities of the ''saka-saka'' later provoked national outrage after they assassinated a former mayor of [[Bantay, Ilocos Sur|Bantay]], next to Vigan, in 1969 and burned the villages of Ora Este and Ora Centro in the same municipality in May 1970,<ref name="rappler"/> in retaliation for their residents’ support for [[Chavit Singson|Luis "Chavit" Singson]], a nephew of Crisologo who became his political rival and had tried to circumvent his uncle's monopoly on tobacco,<ref>{{cite news|title=Tobacco enriches, corrupts northern Philippines|url=https://www.arabnews.com/news/455861|work=Arab News|date=23 June 2013|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> leading to the death of an elderly woman. After his son, [[Vincent Crisologo|Vincent]], was arrested for leading the ''saka-saka'' in these incidents, Crisologo reportedly went to [[Malacañang]] and appealed for help from his ally, President [[Ferdinand Marcos]], while demanding a greater share of rewards that Marcos had promised him in exchange for supporting his [[1969 Philippine presidential election |presidential reelection campaign in 1969]]. When Marcos refused, Crisologo reportedly then threatened to expose Marcos's role and that of his cousin [[Fabian Ver]] in cornering the tobacco monopoly in the [[Ilocos Region]].<ref name="rappler"/>


==Assassination==
==Assassination==
Shortly after his reported meeting with Marcos, Crisologo was killed on 18 October 1970 after being shot in the head while kneeling inside [[Vigan Cathedral]] during a church service, by a gunman who stood directly behind him and then escaped among terrified churchgoers.<ref>{{cite news|title=CLOSE MARCOS AIDE SLAIN IN PHILIPPINES|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/19/archives/close-marcos-aide-slain-in-philippines.html|work=New York Times|date=23 June 2013|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> His killer was never found and the case remains unsolved,<ref name="rappler"/> although residents believe that the killing had something to do with tobacco excise taxes and was masterminded by ranking political and military leaders.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abra mayor’s kin tag Crisologo; cops eye NPA in slay|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2002/10/31/182056/abra-mayor146s-kin-tag-crisologo-cops-eye-npa-slay|work=The Philippine Star|date=31 October 2002|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref>
Shortly after his reported meeting with Marcos, Crisologo was killed on October 18, 1970 after being shot in the head while kneeling during a [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] at [[Vigan Cathedral]] by a gunman who stood directly behind him and then escaped among terrified churchgoers.<ref>{{cite news|title=CLOSE MARCOS AIDE SLAIN IN PHILIPPINES|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/19/archives/close-marcos-aide-slain-in-philippines.html|work=New York Times|date=23 June 2013|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite PH act|chamber=GR|number=L-35377-78|date=July 31, 1975|publisher=Lawphil|title=The People Of The Philippines vs. Camilo Pilotin, Vincent Crisologo, Isidro Pugal And Erning Abano|accessdate=May 6, 2024|url=https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1975/jul1975/gr_l_35377_78_1975.html}}</ref> His killer was never found and the case remains unsolved,<ref name="rappler"/> although residents believe that the killing had something to do with tobacco excise taxes and was masterminded by ranking political and military leaders.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abra mayor’s kin tag Crisologo; cops eye NPA in slay|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2002/10/31/182056/abra-mayor146s-kin-tag-crisologo-cops-eye-npa-slay|work=The Philippine Star|date=31 October 2002|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref>


No special election was called to replace him in Congress,<ref>{{cite web|last=Pawilen|first=Reidan|title=THE SOLID NORTH MYTH: AN INVESTIGATION ON THE STATUS OF DISSENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS DURING THE MARCOS REGIME IN REGIONS 1 AND 2, 1969-1986|url=https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1065&context=journal-articles|work=UP Los Baños Journal|date=31 July 2020|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> and his seat remained vacant until the dissolution of Congress in 1972 following the declaration of [[Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos|martial law]] by President Marcos in 1972 and was only occupied again in 1987 by his nephew, Chavit Singson following Marcos's overthrow and the restoration of Congress.<ref name="roster"/>
No special election was called to replace him in Congress,<ref>{{cite web|last=Pawilen|first=Reidan|title=THE SOLID NORTH MYTH: AN INVESTIGATION ON THE STATUS OF DISSENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS DURING THE MARCOS REGIME IN REGIONS 1 AND 2, 1969-1986|url=https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1065&context=journal-articles|work=UP Los Baños Journal|date=31 July 2020|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> and his seat remained vacant until the dissolution of Congress in 1972 following the declaration of [[Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos|martial law]] by President Marcos and was only occupied again in 1987 by his nephew, Chavit Singson following Marcos's overthrow and the restoration of Congress.<ref name="roster"/>


Crisologo's murder and the defeat of his wife Carmeling to Chavit Singson in the gubernatorial race and that of his son Vincent in the mayoralty contest in Vigan to a brother of Chavit in 1971 led to the end of his family's political dominance in the province and the rise of the Singson family to prominence.<ref name="rappler"/>
Crisologo's murder and the defeat of his wife Carmeling to Chavit Singson in the gubernatorial race and that of his son Vincent in the mayoralty contest in Vigan to a brother of Chavit in 1971 led to the end of his family's political dominance in the province and the rise of the Singson family to prominence.<ref name="rappler"/>


==Family and legacy==
==Family and legacy==
[[File:Floro Crisologo.jpg|thumb|right|Portrait of Floro Crisologo|236x236px]]
[[File:Floro Crisologo.jpg|thumb|right|Portrait of Congressman Floro Crisologo|236x236px]]
Crisologo was a scion of the Crisologo dynasty that dominated politics in Ilocos Sur through much of the 20th century. One of his ancestors was [[Marcelino Crisólogo|Marcelino "Mena" Crisólogo]], a literary authority who also served as the province's first civil governor during the American occupation.<ref name="xiao"/>
Crisologo was a scion of the Crisologo dynasty that dominated politics in Ilocos Sur through much of the 20th century. One of his ancestors was [[Marcelino Crisólogo|Marcelino "Mena" Crisólogo]], a literary authority who also served as the province's first civil governor during the American occupation.<ref name="xiao"/>


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==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
Crisologo was portrayed by [[Eddie Rodriguez]] in the 1991 film ''Bingbong: The Vincent Crisologo Story'' and by [[Eddie Garcia]] in the 2003 film ''[[Chavit (film)|Chavit]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bautista |first= Mario |title=The story behind the P80-M Chavit bioflick |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2003/11/26/229290/story-behind-p80-m-chavit-bioflick |work=The Philippine Star |date=26 November 2003}}</ref>
Crisologo was portrayed by [[Eddie Rodriguez]] in the 1991 film ''Bingbong: The Vincent Crisologo Story'' and by [[Eddie Garcia]] in the 2003 film ''[[Chavit (film)|Chavit]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bautista |first= Mario |title=The story behind the P80-M Chavit bioflick |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2003/11/26/229290/story-behind-p80-m-chavit-bioflick |work=The Philippine Star |date=26 November 2003}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[List of Philippine legislators who died in office]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Crisologo, Floro}}
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1970 deaths]]
[[Category:1970 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in the Philippines]]
[[Category:1970 murders in Asia]]
[[Category:People from Vigan]]
[[Category:People from Vigan]]
[[Category:Filipino Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Filipino Roman Catholics]]
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[[Category:Nacionalista Party politicians]]
[[Category:Nacionalista Party politicians]]
[[Category:University of the Philippines alumni]]
[[Category:University of the Philippines alumni]]
[[Category:Assassinated Filipino politicians|C]]
[[Category:Assassinated Filipino politicians]]
[[Category:1970s assassinated politicians in Asia]]
[[Category:Asian politicians assassinated in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Assassinated politicians in 1970]]
[[Category:Politicians assassinated in 1970]]

Latest revision as of 13:57, 18 November 2024

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Singson and the surname or paternal family name is Crisologo.
Floro Crisologo
Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Ilocos Sur's 1st district
In office
December 30, 1961 – October 18, 1970[1]
Preceded byFaustino Tobia
Succeeded byVacant
Post later held by Chavit Singson
In office
May 25, 1946 – December 30, 1957
Preceded byJesus Serrano
Succeeded byFaustino Tobia
Member of the Vigan Municipal Council
In office
1934–1937
Personal details
Born
Floro Singson Crisologo

(1909-07-29)July 29, 1909
Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines[a]
DiedOctober 18, 1970(1970-10-18) (aged 61)
Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines
Political partyNacionalista (1946-1949, 1965-1970)
Other political
affiliations		Liberal (1949-1965)
SpouseCarmen Pichay
RelationsChavit Singson (nephew)
Children8, including Vincent
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer
Military service
Allegiance
  • Philippines
  • United States[b]
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
Years of service1941–1945
RankCaptain
Unit
Battles/wars

Floro Singson Crisologo (July 29, 1909[2] - October 18, 1970) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who represented the 1st district of Ilocos Sur in the Philippine Congress from 1946 until 1959 and from 1961 until his assassination in 1970.

Early life

[edit]

Floro Singson Crisologo was born on July 29, 1910 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Moises de la Peña Crisologo and Victorina Pablo Singson. He graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1933 and was admitted to the Bar on November 6 that year. After setting up his law office in Vigan, he was elected in 1934 to the Municipal Council.[2]

Career

[edit]

World War II

[edit]

During the Second World War, Crisologo joined the guerrilla movement against the Japanese, reaching the rank of Captain. He participated in the Battle of Bessang Pass in 1945 as a member of the USAFIP-NL. He also served as Assistant Inspector General and member of the Court Martial of the Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry Division.[2]

Congressional career

[edit]

Crisologo's wartime conduct enabled him to get elected to the House of Representatives in 1946, where he represented the 1st district of Ilocos Sur and served until he lost reelection to Faustino Tobia in 1957.[3] In 1961, he was elected again to the position and served until his assassination in 1970.[4]

During his stint in Congress, Crisologo authored several laws such as the ones that established the University of Northern Philippines and the Social Security System, and the Tobacco Law.[5] However, Crisologo became controversial due to his attempts to monopolize the tobacco industry in the province by establishing the Farmer's Cooperative Marketing Association (Facoma), which bought the tobacco harvest of the farmers and required all farmers to process their leaves at his drying plant. To enforce this monopoly, he also organized a 300-strong private army, which residents nicknamed the “saka-saka” or the “barefooted,” and whose role was to "tax" trucks filled with tobacco bound for Manila for as much as $100 for each vehicle.[6] He was also personally embroiled in incidents of political violence such as during the 1965 elections, when he ran into a convoy of his congressional rival Pablo Sanidad and engaged them in a shootout that killed seven people and injured five others.[7]

The atrocities of the saka-saka later provoked national outrage after they assassinated a former mayor of Bantay, next to Vigan, in 1969 and burned the villages of Ora Este and Ora Centro in the same municipality in May 1970,[6] in retaliation for their residents’ support for Luis "Chavit" Singson, a nephew of Crisologo who became his political rival and had tried to circumvent his uncle's monopoly on tobacco,[8] leading to the death of an elderly woman. After his son, Vincent, was arrested for leading the saka-saka in these incidents, Crisologo reportedly went to Malacañang and appealed for help from his ally, President Ferdinand Marcos, while demanding a greater share of rewards that Marcos had promised him in exchange for supporting his presidential reelection campaign in 1969. When Marcos refused, Crisologo reportedly then threatened to expose Marcos's role and that of his cousin Fabian Ver in cornering the tobacco monopoly in the Ilocos Region.[6]

Assassination

[edit]

Shortly after his reported meeting with Marcos, Crisologo was killed on October 18, 1970 after being shot in the head while kneeling during a Mass at Vigan Cathedral by a gunman who stood directly behind him and then escaped among terrified churchgoers.[9][10] His killer was never found and the case remains unsolved,[6] although residents believe that the killing had something to do with tobacco excise taxes and was masterminded by ranking political and military leaders.[11]

No special election was called to replace him in Congress,[12] and his seat remained vacant until the dissolution of Congress in 1972 following the declaration of martial law by President Marcos and was only occupied again in 1987 by his nephew, Chavit Singson following Marcos's overthrow and the restoration of Congress.[4]

Crisologo's murder and the defeat of his wife Carmeling to Chavit Singson in the gubernatorial race and that of his son Vincent in the mayoralty contest in Vigan to a brother of Chavit in 1971 led to the end of his family's political dominance in the province and the rise of the Singson family to prominence.[6]

Family and legacy

[edit]
Portrait of Congressman Floro Crisologo

Crisologo was a scion of the Crisologo dynasty that dominated politics in Ilocos Sur through much of the 20th century. One of his ancestors was Marcelino "Mena" Crisólogo, a literary authority who also served as the province's first civil governor during the American occupation.[5]

Crisologo's wife, Carmen (née Pichay; 1923–2018), better known as Carmeling, served as Governor of Ilocos Sur from 1964 to 1971[13] while he was in Congress. His son, Vincent Crisologo (born in 1947), was convicted for the burning of Ora Este and Ora Centro and jailed until he was pardoned by Marcos in 1980. He later became a politician and congressman in his own right in Quezon City.[4]

Crisologo's ancestral home in Vigan is now a museum dedicated to his life and displaying his memorabilia.[14]

[edit]

Crisologo was portrayed by Eddie Rodriguez in the 1991 film Bingbong: The Vincent Crisologo Story and by Eddie Garcia in the 2003 film Chavit.[15]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The Philippines was a unincorporated territory of the United States known as the Philippine Islands at the time of Crisologo's birth.
  2. ^ During the Commonwealth era, the US controlled the Philippines as a protectorate.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Assassinated on October 18, 1970; seat remained vacant until the end of the 7th Congress.
  2. ^ a b c Official Directory of the House of Representatives (1954-1957). Bureau of Printing.
  3. ^ "THE PHILIPPINES: Mecca for Murder". TIME. 7 September 1959. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "ROSTER of Philippine Legislators (from 1907 to 2019)" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b Chua, Xiao (23 October 2013). "XIAO TIME, 23 October 2013: PAGPATAY KAY CONG. FLORO CRISOLOGO SA LOOB NG KATEDRAL NG VIGAN". Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e Cimatu, Frank (26 June 2022). "Blood and money, not gold and honey, birthed Solid North". Rappler. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  7. ^ Kreuzer, Peter. ""If You Can't Beat Them, Kill Them": Fatal Violence Against Politicians in the Philippines" (PDF). Peace Research Institute Frankfurt. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Tobacco enriches, corrupts northern Philippines". Arab News. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. ^ "CLOSE MARCOS AIDE SLAIN IN PHILIPPINES". New York Times. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  10. ^ G.R. No. L-35377-78 (July 31, 1975), The People Of The Philippines vs. Camilo Pilotin, Vincent Crisologo, Isidro Pugal And Erning Abano, Lawphil, retrieved May 6, 2024
  11. ^ "Abra mayor's kin tag Crisologo; cops eye NPA in slay". The Philippine Star. 31 October 2002. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  12. ^ Pawilen, Reidan (31 July 2020). "THE SOLID NORTH MYTH: AN INVESTIGATION ON THE STATUS OF DISSENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS DURING THE MARCOS REGIME IN REGIONS 1 AND 2, 1969-1986". UP Los Baños Journal. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  13. ^ Savellano, Deogracias Victor. "Prominent Ilocos Surians". Ilocos Sur: An Illustrated History. Sanicua Publication. pp. 220–221.
  14. ^ "Crisologo Museum". Guide to the Philippines. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  15. ^ Bautista, Mario (26 November 2003). "The story behind the P80-M Chavit bioflick". The Philippine Star.
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