Joe Dizon

Jose "Joe" Pacturayan Dizon (September 29, 1948 – November 4, 2013) was a Filipino priest and activist who fought against the dictatorship of then President Ferdinand Marcos.

Dizon led protest actions against government corruption and human rights abuses during martial law in the Philippines, 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.

Dizon was awarded the Tji Hak-Soon Justice and Peace Award in South Korea.

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. He is also credited with leading the establishment of the first Catholic parish in the Diocese of Imus dedicated to the first Filipino saint, Lorenzo Ruiz, in Aniban, Bacoor, Cavite, and serving as its first parish priest from 1988 to 1992.

Political work during martial law Dizon supported workers and campaigned for their right to organize unions, which were banned under the dictatorship. The La Tondeña strike was noted for being the first big strike to be held under martial law and was the first major act of open resistance against the Marcos dictatorship.

Dizon 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. Dizon formed Plunder Watch with Dr. Carol Araullo, Teddy Casiño, Rafael Mariano, Raymond Palatino, and Carmen Deunida.

Dizon and other leaders of the Estrada Resign Movement filed plunder charges against Joseph Estrada in 2001. Estrada was convicted of plunder in September 2007, a first against a former Philippine president.