Jose W. Diokno

JOSE WRIGHT DIOKNO (1922-1987) was a nationalist, human rights advocate, lawyer, Secretary of Justice, and Senator. Nicknamed Pepe, he was born on February 26, 1922 in Manila — to lawyer and Supreme Court Justice Ramon M. Diokno and Leonor Wright, an American who became a Filipino citizen.

A supreme advocate of human rights, Ka Pepe was detained in 1972 — without charges — by the Marcos dictatorship. After his release in 1974, he founded the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), an association of lawyers from all over the Philippines, who render their services — free of charge — to promote the rule of law and respect for human rights in society.

Prior to his detention, Ka Pepe served nine years as a Philippine Senator, and passed many economic reform laws with the Filipino masses in mind. From 1967-1970, he was named Most Outstanding Senator by the Philippine Free Press — the only senator to be so honored for four consecutive years.

His career in public service started in 1962, when he was appointed as Secretary of Justice by Diosdado Macapagal. Ka Pepe investigated high-profile anomalies — including a case surrounding Harry Stonehill, who he prosecuted for tax evasion and other crimes. Ka Pepe was fired by Macapagal over these investigations.After the dictatorship, Ka Pepe was appointed chair of the Presidential Committee on Human Rights, but resigned in protest of the massacre of farmers at Mendiola in 1987. He was also the principal government negotiator in peace talks with the National Democratic Front.

Ka Pepe died on February 27, 1987 — a day after his 65th birthday — at his home at 55 Third Street, New Manila, of bronchogenic carcinoma.

He was married to Carmen “Nena” Reyes Icasiano, and had ten children — Mench, Popoy, Pat, Maris, Maitet, Cookie, Mike, Chel, Maia, and Martin. He now has eighteen grandchildren, and eight great-granchildren.

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