Romraflo R. Taojo (February 4, 1955 - April 2, 1985) was a Filipino labor and human rights lawyer, activist, and educator best known for his work with the

Free Legal Assistance Group The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) is a nationwide organization of human rights lawyers in the Philippines. It was founded in 1974 by Senate of the Philippines, Sen. Jose W. Diokno, Lorenzo Tañada, J.B.L. Reyes, and Joker Arroyo during th ...

, where he pursued human rights cases against military personnel who were implicated in torture cases. He was killed on April 2, 1985, when unidentified gunman entered his apartment in Tagum, Davao Del Norte, and shot him five times in the eyes and mouth. The gunmen were believed to be part of a paramilitary group acting on orders from the military. In 1992, Taojo was one of the first "65 martyrs" honored by having his name inscribed on the wall of remembrance at the Philippines'

Bantayog ng mga Bayani The Bantayog ng mga Bayani (), sometimes simply referred to as the Bantayog, is a monument, museum, and historical research center in Quezon City, Philippines, which honors the martyrs and heroes of the struggle against the Martial law under F ...

, which recognizes heroes and martyrs who fought against

Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino lawyer, politician, dictator, and Kleptocracy, kleptocrat who served as the tenth president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled the c ...

and his martial law regime.

Life and career

Taojo was born to a poor couple from Cebu who later migrated to Mindanao. He passed the bar in 1980, after which he began work as a human rights lawyer. In 1981, he became the first chair of the

Integrated Bar of the Philippines The Integrated Bar of the Philippines ( abbreviated as IBP) is the national organization of lawyers in the Philippines. It is the mandatory bar association for Filipino lawyers. History The IBP was established as an official organization for ...

' Davao Del Norte chapter and established its first human rights committee. He provided legal services for free to indigent clients, many of whom were farmers, laborers, or victims of human rights violations. Some were members of Indigenous communities, including victims of

land grabbing Land grabbing is the large-scale acquisition of land through buying or leasing of large pieces of land by domestic and Multinational corporation, transnational companies, governments, and individuals. While used broadly throughout history, land g ...

and military atrocities under the Marcos dictatorship. Taojo specialized in labor law and represented the Solidarity of Workers of Davao. In October 1984, he headed a panel of negotiators for striking laborers at a large banana plantation. Some of the laborers' demands were met as a result of the negotiations.

References

Individuals honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Lawyers honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani 1955 births 1985 deaths {{Philippines-bio-stub