View source for Arrest: Pat. Rizal Alih – Zamboanga Massacre

{{Short description|1989 film starring Ramon Revilla and Eddie Garcia}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Arrest: Pat. Rizal Alih – Zamboanga Massacre
| image          =
| alt            =
| caption        =
| director       = [[Carlo J. Caparas]]
| producer       = <!-- Do not add Donna Villa, as she is credited as executive producer. -->
| writer         = {{Plainlist|
*Carlo J. Caparas
*Tony Mortel}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
*[[Ramon Revilla]]
*[[Vilma Santos]]
*[[Eddie Garcia]]
*[[Marianne Dela Riva]]}}
| music          = Demet Velasquez
| cinematography = Ramon Marcelino
| editing        = Rene Tala
| studio         = The Golden Lions Productions<ref name="MSGrand">{{cite news|title=Grand Opening Today|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890308&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=June 21, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Kagitingan Publications Inc.|date=March 8, 1989|page=25|quote=Their Encounter Was a Crossroad... a Tragic Destiny ...One Man Met His Dead End... The Other... His Death!}}</ref><br>EG Productions
| distributor    =
| released       = {{Film date|1989|3|8}}
| runtime        =
| country        = [[Philippines]]
| language       = [[Filipino language|Filipino]]
| budget         =
| gross          =
}}
'''''Arrest: Pat. Rizal Alih – Zamboanga Massacre''''' (marketed as '''''Arrest: Patrolman Risal Alih – Zamboanga Massacre''''') is a 1989 Filipino [[action film]] directed by comic book writer [[Carlo J. Caparas]] and written by Caparas and Tony Mortel. It stars [[Ramon Revilla Sr.|Ramon Revilla]] as the titular patrolman, alongside [[Vilma Santos]], [[Eddie Garcia]], [[Marianne Dela Riva]], [[Paquito Diaz]], [[Raoul Aragon]]n, [[Baldo Marro]], [[Charlie Davao]], and [[Rosemarie Gil]]. Based on the [[Camp Cawa-Cawa siege]] in January 1989,<ref>{{cite news|author1=Soriano, Antero|author2=Macapagal, Antonio|title=General taken hostage in Zamboanga|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890106&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=June 21, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Manila Standard News, Inc.|date=January 6, 1989|page=2}}</ref> the film was written and shot within the span of two months, receiving criticism from the chief of the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines#AFP-wide Service Support and Separate Units|Civil Relations Service]] of the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]] who faulted it as "premature" and potentially inappropriate. ''Zamboanga Massacre'' was released by The Golden Lions Productions on March 8, 1989. Caparas considers ''Zamboanga Massacre'' to be among the films of which he is the proudest.
The real Alih only became aware of the film's existence in 2011 while in prison at [[Camp Crame]], and the year after he filed a [[Defamation|libel]] complaint against Caparas and his wife, executive producer Donna Villa, for maligning his reputation. The case was ultimately dismissed by the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office as the [[Statute of limitations|prescription period]] for filing charges had already expired.
The film is streaming online on [[YouTube]].
==Plot==
In 1984, [[Zamboanga City]] [[Mayor of Zamboanga City|Mayor]] [[Cesar Climaco]] is murdered, and patrolman Rizal Alih is detained for his suspected involvement in the crime.<ref name="MSLibo-on">{{cite news|last=Libo-on|first=Eddie O.|title=Fast-paced action film|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890303&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=June 21, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Kagitingan Publications, Inc.|date=March 4, 1989|page=14|quote=Other memorable sequences are the death-defying escape of Rizal Alih from Camp Cawa-Cawa,... the siege on the mosque, the murder of Mayor Cesar Climaco (Alih being a suspect), the murder of Gen. Batalla, ... etc.}}</ref> In January 1989, Alih and his men take over Camp Cawa-Cawa, the military base where they were held, and hold [[Brigadier general|Brigadier General]] Eduardo Batalla and Colonel Romeo Abendan hostage. After several shooting confrontations with the Philippine military, Alih ultimately beheads Gen. Batalla, and successfully escapes from the military base.<ref name="MSLibo-on"/><ref name="PDI">{{cite news|author1=Philippine Daily Inquirer|author2=San Diego, Bayani|title=Rizal Alih sues Carlo J, wife over 'beheading' scene in 1991 [sic] film|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/257238/rizal-alih-sues-carlo-j-wife-over-beheading-scene-in-1991-film|accessdate=June 22, 2020|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer|Inquirer News]]|publisher=INQUIRER.net|date=August 24, 2012|quote=Alih, 67, said the movie depicted him as having beheaded Gen. Eduardo Batalla during the siege.}}</ref>
==Cast==
*[[Ramon Revilla Sr.|Ramon Revilla]] as Pat. Rizal Alih
*[[Vilma Santos]] as Jocelyn,<ref name="MSLibo-on"/> Rizal's fifth wife<ref name="MSRasul">{{cite news|last=Resurrecion|first=Lyn F.|title=Rasul appeals for balanced treatment|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890128&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=June 21, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Manila Standard News, Inc.|date=January 28, 1989|page=15}}</ref>
*[[Eddie Garcia]] as [[Brigadier general|Brig. Gen.]] Eduardo Batalla
*[[Marianne Dela Riva]] as Evelyn Batalla, wife of Brig. Gen. Eduardo
*[[Paquito Diaz]]
*[[Raoul Aragon]]n as Colonel Romeo Abendan<ref name="MSAdobas">{{cite news|last=Adobas|first=Dennis|title=What's with Sharon and Tonton|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890311&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=July 19, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Kagitingan Publications, Inc.|date=March 11, 1989}}</ref>
*[[Baldo Marro]] as Idris
*[[Charlie Davao]] as General Renato de Villa
*[[Rosemarie Gil]] <!-- as possibly Santanina Rasul, though no sources are found -->
*[[Dick Israel]] as Nasim<ref name="MSSoon">{{cite news|title=Soon to Open|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890217&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=June 21, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Kagitingan Publications, Inc.|date=February 26, 1989|page=15|quote=A Thundering Film destined to be the Most Explosive, Most Expensive Movie of the Decade!}}</ref>
*[[Rez Cortez]]
*[[Robin Padilla]]
*[[Conrad Poe]]
*[[Roy Alvarez]] as Major Refe
*Tony Carreon
*[[Ruben Rustia]] as Mayor [[Cesar Climaco]]<ref name="MSSoon"/>
*[[Joonee Gamboa]]
*Rocco Montalban
*[[Joko Diaz]]
*Mervin Samson
*Rey Venus
*Manny Doria
*Robert Miller
*Danny Riel
*Bebeng Amora
*Danny Labra
==Production==
The Golden Lions Production acquired the adaptation rights to the [[Camp Cawa-Cawa siege]] in January 1989, the same month that the incident occurred.<ref name="MSCantStop">{{cite news|agency=[[Philippine News Agency|PNA]]|title='We can't stop filming of 'Alih-Batalla' movie' – Morato|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890128&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=June 21, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Manila Standard News, Inc.|date=January 28, 1989|page=15}}</ref> The film's working title was ''Batalla-Alih Encounter: Zamboanga Massacre''.<ref name="MSHighs">{{cite news|last=Mendoza|first=Meg|title=Highs and lows|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890128&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=June 21, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Manila Standard News, Inc.|date=January 29, 1989|page=14|quote=PEOPLE are wondering how on earth [sic] were Donna Villa and Carlo J. Caparas able to convince Vilma Santos to portray the role of Rizal Alih's wife in Golden Lion Films' next movie, ''Batalla-Alih Encounter: Zamboanga Massacre?''}}</ref> According to director and co-writer [[Carlo J. Caparas]] in 2009, he was already shooting the film even as the siege was ongoing, as he wanted the scenes to be "really fresh".<ref name="GMANO">{{cite news|last=Dychiu|first=Stephanie|title=The Revenge of Carlo J. Caparas (God Help Us)|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/specialreports/170713/the-revenge-of-carlo-j-caparas-god-help-us/story/|accessdate=June 22, 2020|work=[[GMA News Online]]|publisher=[[GMA Network]]|date=August 26, 2009|location=[[Ayala Alabang]], [[Muntinlupa]]}}</ref>
===Casting===
In January 1989, director [[Carlo J. Caparas]] cast [[Vilma Santos]], the highest-paid film actress in the Philippines at the time,<ref>{{cite news|last=Arevalo|first=Ike|title=Brighter times for moviepeople with bigger grosses at the till|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19881127&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=June 20, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Manila Standard News, Inc.|date=November 27, 1988|page=22}}</ref> for the role of Rizal Alih's wife, after Santos had to decline a role in Caparas' previous film ''Celestina Sanchez, Alyas Bubbles – Enforcer: Ativan Gang'' (commonly shortened to ''Bubbles'').<ref name="MSHighs"/> Her scenes were allegedly shot in only one day.<ref>{{cite news|last=Adobas|first=Dennis|title=Snooky not really in the State?|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890309&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=July 19, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Kagitingan Publications, Inc.|date=March 9, 1989|page=27|language=English, Filipino}}</ref>
===Controversy===
Honesto Isleta, chief of the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines#AFP-wide Service Support and Separate Units|Civil Relations Service]], [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]] (CRSAFP), criticized the film's production in late January 1989 for being "premature", as the Philippine military presumed that the actual Rizal Alih could still be alive. In addition, Isleta stated that [[Ramon Revilla]], an established action star, would be inappropriate portraying Alih as the protagonist of the story. However, Isleta would admit that the military could not halt the film's production, so they would instead refuse to lease its equipment and firearms to the film crew.<ref>{{cite news|last=Soriano|first=Antero F.|title=Military opposes 'Alih-Batalla' movie|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890128&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=June 21, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Manila Standard News, Inc.|date=January 28, 1989|page=15}}</ref>
[[Nina Rasul|Santanina Rasul]], a [[Senator of the Philippines|Philippines senator]] who was part of the unsuccessful negotiations for releasing General Batalla, appealed to the filmmakers to have a balanced depiction of Alih in the film.<ref name="MSRasul"/> Manuel Morato, chairman of the [[Movie and Television Review and Classification Board]] (MTRCB), later stated that though his agency could not impede the film's production, it would closely supervise it so as to avoid the glorification of Alih in the work.<ref name="MSCantStop"/>
==Release==
''Zamboanga Massacre'' was graded "A" by the MTRCB, indicating a "Very Good" quality.<ref name="MSGrand"/><ref>{{cite news|title=MTRCB Film Classification and Ratings Guide|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890105&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|accessdate=June 21, 2020|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Manila Standard News, Inc.|date=January 5, 1989|page=16}}</ref> The film was released by The Golden Lions Productions on March 8, 1989.<ref name="MSGrand"/> Actor [[Roy Alvarez]]'s agents, however, complained about the posters made for the film for not placing Alvarez's name above the title, arguing that his recent recognition in the internationally co-produced television film ''[[A Dangerous Life]]'' warrants a higher billing for the actor.<ref>{{cite news|last=Villanueva|first=Nena|title=Show Bits|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19890307&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|access-date=June 22, 2021|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Manila Standard News, Inc.|date=March 7, 1989|page=27}}</ref> Caparas later considered the film to be among the directorial works which he is most proud, alongside ''Pieta'', ''Kahit Ako'y Lupa'', and ''Bubbles''.<ref name="GMANO"/>
==Reaction of Rizal Alih and lawsuit==
In November 2011, while the former renegade policeman Rizal Alih was serving his prison sentence at [[Camp Crame]], he found out about the existence of ''Zamboanga Massacre'' for the first time from a prison officer who mentioned it to him.<ref name="PDI"/><ref name="PS">{{cite news|last=Mateo|first=Janvic|title=Jailed cop appeals junking of libel case vs Caparas|url=https://www.philstar.com/metro/2013/03/22/922564/jailed-cop-appeals-junking-libel-case-vs-caparas|accessdate=June 22, 2020|work=[[The Philippine Star|Philstar.com]]|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=March 22, 2013|location=[[Manila]], Philippines}}</ref> Alih later watched the film from the officer's laptop, and felt "so shocked, speechless and angry" that he could not finish the viewing; the film depicted him as having beheaded General Batalla, which he stated as "utterly baseless, malicious and a downright lie perpetrated in order to make the movie such a big hit".<ref name="PDI"/>
A year later, Alih filed a libel complaint against director Caparas and his wife, executive producer Donna Villa, arguing that the filmmakers prioritized making "a huge profit at the expense of maligning my name and reputation".<ref name="PDI"/> The case was dismissed by the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office, however, as the prescription period for filing charges had lapsed after more than two decades since the film's release.<ref name="PS"/> Alih later died in prison on August 14, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Sison, Bebot Jr.|author2=Felipe, Cecille Suerte|title=Rebel cop Rizal Alih dies in jail at 77|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/08/15/1488563/rebel-cop-rizal-alih-dies-jail-77|accessdate=June 22, 2020|work=[[The Philippine Star|Philstar.com]]|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=August 15, 2015|location=[[Manila]], Philippines}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{IMDb title|2658068}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VspAoKw9fg Full Movie] on [[Cinema One]]
{{Carlo J. Caparas}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arrest: Pat. Rizal Alih - Zamboanga Massacre}}
[[Category:1989 films]]
[[Category:1989 action films]]
[[Category:Action films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Filipino-language films]]
[[Category:Films about hostage takings]]
[[Category:Films about military personnel]]
[[Category:Films set in 1989]]
[[Category:Films set in Zamboanga City]]
[[Category:Philippine action films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Carlo J. Caparas]]