''Jones Bridge Massacre (Task Force Clabio)'' is a 1989 Filipino

crime action film The action film is a film genre that predominantly features chase sequences, fights, shootouts, explosions, and stunt work. The specifics of what constitutes an action film has been in scholarly debate since the 1980s. While some scholars such as D ...

based on an ambush on the

Jones Bridge The William A. Jones Memorial Bridge, commonly known as the Jones Bridge, is an arched girder bridge that spans the Pasig River in Manila, Philippines. It is named after the United States United States House of Representatives, legislator Willia ...

on June 8, 1989, in which two policemen were killed. Directed by Ben "M7" Yalung, the film stars

Lito Lapid Manuel "Lito" Mercado Lapid (; born October 25, 1955) is a Filipino actor, director and politician serving as a Senate of the Philippines, Senator since 2019, and previously from 2004 to 2016. He started his political career in Pampanga, serv ...

, Jackie Aquino,

Eddie Garcia Eduardo "Eddie" Verchez Garcia (; May 2, 1929 – June 21, 2019), colloquially known as Manoy, was a Filipino actor, television personality, and filmmaker. Widely regarded as the greatest Filipino actor of all time, Garcia appeared in nearly ...

Paquito Diaz Francisco Bustillos Diaz Sr. (May 28, 1932 – March 3, 2011), known professionally as Paquito Diaz, was a veteran Filipino actor and movie director. He specialized in antagonist roles for both action and comedy films. Biography Early life a ...

Berting Labra Berting Labra (born Roberto S. Labra; April 17, 1933 – February 10, 2009) was a Filipino veteran actor equally adept in comedy and drama, in action flicks and musicals....... Personal life and career Labra starred in ''Apat na Taga'' in 195 ...

Ruel Vernal Ruel Vernal (born Norberto Paranada Venancio; September 8, 1946) is a Filipino-American actor. He was known for portraying villain and lead roles in many famous Philippine films. He was also known as the first endorser of Red Horse Beer. Biograp ...

, Robert Talabis,

Rez Cortez Res Septimo Cortez (born January 4, 1956), better known as Rez Cortez, is a Filipino film and television actor and assistant director. Acting career Cortez's film career began in 1974, when he was introduced in ''Daigdig ng Sindak at Lagim''. ...

, King Gutierrez and Edwin Reyes. Produced by Cine Suerte and EG Productions, the film was released on October 25, 1989. Critic Justino Dormiendo of the ''National Midweek'' gave the film a positive review for its "engrossing" storytelling, though he was nevertheless critical of the decision to exploit a tragic incident for mass consumption.

Cast

as P/Lt. Col. Aladdin Dimagmaliw *Jackie Aquino *

*Robert Talabis *

*King Gutierrez *Edwin Reyes *

Renato del Prado Renato del Prado (January 26, 1940 – November 1, 2013) was a Filipino film actor. Early life Born Renato Natividad-Mateo on January 26, 1940 in Manila. Personal life He was married with 6 children. His youngest son, Janus is also both a film ...

*Manjo del Mundo *Ernie Zarate as

Alfredo Lim Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician, police officer and lawyer who served as a Senate of the Philippines, Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007, He also served as the 20th Mayor of ...

*Romy Romulo *Myleen Gonzales * Rose Ann Gonzales *Frank Lapid *Polly Cagsawan *Rene Yalung *

Roldan Aquino Rolando Desembrana Aquino (May 2, 1942 – March 10, 2014) was a Filipino actor and director, best known for playing antagonist roles in films and television shows. He also became a born-again Evangelical Christian and he was ordained as a past ...

*Joey Padilla

Production

Director Ben "M7" Yalung of Cine Suerte announced in July 1989 that he will produce a film adaptation of the June 8 incident, having consulted with both Western Police District chief

and

Movie and Television Review and Classification Board The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB; ; is a Philippine government agency under the Office of the President of the Philippines that is responsible for the classification and review of television programs, motion p ...

(MTRCB) chairman

Manuel Morato Manuel "Manoling" Lim Morato (November 17, 1933 – July 30, 2021) was a Filipino politician and television host who previously served as chairperson of both the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the Philippine ...

regarding his intention.

Phillip Salvador Phillip Mikael "Ipe" Reyes Salvador (born Felipe Reyes Salvador; August 21, 1953) is a Filipino film and television actor. Acting career Salvador made his film debut in 1971 with ''Adios Mi Amor''. He toiled in minor roles in Philippine movies ...

was originally cast as Lt. Col. Dimagmaliw. However, he was still on vacation and director Yalung was pressured to release the film while the incident was still of interest. As a result,

took over the role.

Release

''Jones Bridge Massacre'' was released in theaters in late October 1989. Brig. Gen.

, director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), was reportedly impressed by the film's trailer alone, and thus gave his endorsement of the film.

Critical response

Justino Dormiendo, writing for the '' National Midweek'', gave ''Jones Bridge Massacre'' a positive review, praising its "engrossing" storytelling, the well-defined characterization of Aladdin, and the "gratifying"

plot twist A plot twist is a literary technique that introduces a radical change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot in a work of fiction. When it happens near the end of a story, it is known as a twist ending or surprise ending. It may change ...

. However, he still cited numerous shortcomings of the film, such as the caricatured portrayal of real life figures such as

and

Jejomar Binay Jejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan Binay Sr. (born Jesus Jose Cabauatan Binay; November 11, 1942) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 13th vice president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016, under President Benigno Aquino III. A ...

, the presumptuous stance the filmmakers took in presenting the twist as accurate to real life, and the film's apparent exploitation of "an all-too real event" for a mass audience.

References

External links

* 1989 films 1989 action films 1980s heist films Crime action films based on actual events Cultural depictions of Alfredo Lim Filipino-language films Films about military personnel Films about police officers Films set in Manila Philippine action films Philippine heist films Cine Suerte films {{1980s-Philippines-film-stub