The following is a chronological list of people in the Philippines murdered by assassins. This list includes public figures and other prominent individuals who were active in politics and daily life. Most of these assassinations are attributed to state forces, rebel groups such as the New People's Army or the Abu Sayyaf Group or contract killers working on behalf of politicians (particularly in the context of electoral rivalries), businesspeople and organized crime.
For a list of journalists assassinated in the Philippines, see List of journalists killed in the Philippines
Assassinations before 1940 DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)Notes1 May 1521Duarte Barbosa, Portuguese explorer and leader of the Magellan expeditionMassacred along with 26 others in a banquet hosted by Rajah Humabon shortly after the death of Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan.25 October 1593Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, Spanish Governor-General of the PhilippinesKilled in a mutiny by Chinese rowers during a Spanish military expedition to the Moluccas.1596Magalat, Cagayano rebel1608Luis Enriquez, Spanish encomendero of Pilitan, Cagayan ValleyKilled during a revolt by Irraya natives1 August 1617Fray Vicente de Sepulveda, Rector Provincial of the Order of Saint AugustineJuan de OcadizJuan de QuintanaAndres EncinasIgnacio de AlcarasKilled at the San Agustin Church1625Father Alonzo Garcia and Brother Onofre Palao, Spanish missionaries based in ApayaoMiguel LanabAlababanKilled during the Itneg or Mandaya Revolt.1650Agustin Sumuroy, Waray rebel1661José Arias, Spanish Augustinian curate of Bacarra, IlocosKilled in a revolt led by Pedro Almazán.1661José Navarro de Santa María, Spanish Dominican curate of Cabicungan, CagayanKilled in a revolt led by Pedro Almazán.1663Francisco de Mesa, Spanish priest based in IloiloKilled in a revolt led by Tapar.11 October 1719Fernando Manuel de Bustamante, Spanish Governor-General of the PhilippinesDragged and killed along with his son by a mob instigated by friars.1744Giuseppe Lamberti, Italian-born Jesuit curate of Jagna, BoholFrancisco DagohoyKilled during the Dagohoy Rebellion.1744Gaspar Morales, Spanish curate of Inabanga, BoholFrancisco DagohoyKilled in retaliation for his refusal to administer a Christian burial for Dagohoy's brother, who died while performing an errand for the priest, which triggered Dagohoy's revolt.28 May 1763Diego Silang, Ilocano rebel leader, and husband of Gabriela SilangMiguel VicosPedro BebecChurch authorities paid the assassins. Vicos was Silang's friend.1 June 1823Mariano Fernández de Folgueras, former Spanish Governor-General of the PhilippinesKilled by rebelling Spanish soldiers during the Novales Revolt.9 August 1846Juan Rubio, Spanish curate of Carig, Nueva VizcayaKilled and beheaded in an ambush by Ifugaos.1860Jose Pinzon y Purga, Spanish governor of DavaoKilled by Moros resisting his attempt to organize a settlement in Tagum.14 August 1868Jose Lorenzo, Spanish missionary priest based in Ibaay, IfugaoKilled by Ifugao natives6 April 1870Victorino Garcia, Spanish missionary priest of Lagawe, IfugaoBelieved to have been thrown off a cliff by Ifugao natives25 April 1897Ciriaco Bonifacio, revolutionary and brother of Katipunan founder Andres BonifacioRevolutionary soldiers led by Agapito Bonzon and Jose Ignacio PauaKilled during the arrest of his brother under the command of Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine Revolution.8 April 1898León Kilat, Cebuano revolutionary leaderCaptain Florencio NoelApolinario AlcuitasKilled by his own men due to endangering the town of Carcar.5 June 1899Antonio Luna, Commanding General of the Philippine Revolutionary Army during the Philippine–American WarKawit Battalion (Presidential Guard) led by Pedro JanolinoKilled along with his aide, Colonel Francisco "Paco" Roman after receiving a summons to republican headquarters in Cabanatuan.6 June 1906Edward Robert C. Bolton, American Military Governor of DavaoMangulayonKilled along with his foreman by a Kulaman Manobo chief.20 January 1908Benito Lopez, Governor of IloiloRaul Rafael Ingles, 1908: The Way it Really was : Historical Journal for the UP Centennial, 1908, The University of the Philippines Press (2008)Joaquin GilShot by a supporter of a political rival3 August 1918Conrado Lerma, Governor of BataanJose BaluyotShot by a political rival23 February 1932Soliman Peralta, Vice Mayor of Malita, DavaoKilled along with nine others in an attack by Moros.20 September 1935Julio Nalundasan, Congressman for the 2nd district of Ilocos Norte Future President Ferdinand Marcos, then a university student, tried but acquitted for the murder.14 December 1938James Fugate, former Governor of Sulu
1940s DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)Notes1 May 1942Jose Abad Santos, Chief Justice of the Philippines and de facto head of the Philippine Commonwealth during the Japanese occupation of the PhilippinesKilled by Japanese forces in Malabang, Lanao del Sur for refusing to serve in a collaborationist government.June 1942Severino Macasocol, Mayor of Sogod, LeyteBelieved to have been killed on the orders of a prewar-electoral rival.June 1942Pablo Magliate, Vice Mayor of Sogod, LeyteBelieved to have been killed on the orders of a prewar-electoral rival.15 July 1942Wenceslao Vinzons, Congressman for the lone district of Camarines NorteKilled by Japanese forces for his role in the resistance during World War II.1943Tee Han Kee, Chinese Filipino community leader and vice chairman of the Japanese-sponsored Chinese AssociationKilled by guerrillas for collaborating with the Japanese.1944Gregorio Felipe, district chief of San Francisco del Monte after the dissolution of Quezon City into its component neighborhoods during the Japanese occupationKilled by guerrillas for collaborating with the Japanese.11 February 1944José Ozámiz, Senator and former Governor of Misamis OccidentalKilled by Japanese forces for his role in the resistance movement.28 December 1944Enrique Roldan, former mayor of Bayambang, Pangasinan31 December 1944Vicente Lim, military officerKilled by Japanese forces for his role in the resistance movement.6 January 1945Josefa Llanes Escoda, civic leader and founder of the Girl Scouts of the PhilippinesKilled by Japanese forces for her role in the resistance movement.15 February 1945Juan Gabriel, Mayor of ParañaqueKilled by guerrillas for collaborating with the Japanese.21 February 1945Pablo Amorsolo, painter and educator”Pablo Cueto Amorsolo,” GeringerArt.com (undated) , retrieved on March 18, 2008”Pablo Cueto Amorsolo,” FamilySearch.org (2024), retrieved on June 3, 2024Claimed to have been killed by guerrillas for collaborating with the Japanese.8 March 1945Mariano Marcos, former congressman for the 2nd district of Ilocos Norte and father of future President Ferdinand MarcosClaimed by his family to have been killed by the Japanese, while military archives blame his death on guerrillas commanded by Robert Lapham for collaborating with the Japanese.24 August 1946Juan Feleo, peasant leader and one of the leaders of the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas and the HukbalahapHis assassination triggered the post-World War II phase of the Hukbalahap Rebellion.February 1949Patrocinio Gulapa, Mayor of Maragondon, Cavite1949Hugo Beratio, Mayor of Bailen, Cavite28 April 1949Aurora Quezon, former First Lady of the Philippines and widow of President Manuel L. QuezonDied with her daughter, son-in-law and several others in an ambush believed to have been perpetrated by the Hukbalahap.28 April 1949Ponciano Bernardo, Mayor of Quezon CityDied with Aurora Quezon and several others in an ambush believed to have been perpetrated by the Hukbalahap.14 November 1949Sofronio Avanceña, Mayor of Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental
1950s DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)Notes1 November 1950Eugenio Jaro, former governor of Leyte7 October 1951Asiong Salonga, gangsterErnesto ReyesShot by a henchman of a rival gang leader14 November 1951Moises Padilla, mayoral candidate in Magallon, Negros OccidentalRafael Lacson, Governor of Negros OccidentalPopular outrage over the murder and the swift resolution of the case by Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay contributed to the latter's victory in the 1953 Philippine presidential election.23 December 1951Angel Arias, Mayor-elect of Rosario, Batangas22 February 1952Teodoro Cuartero, former mayor of Rosario, Batangas26 May 1952Pedro Tecala, Mayor of Danao, Cebu2 September 1952Severino Rillo, Mayor of Maragondon, CaviteLeonardo Manecio, gangster and folk legend acting at the behest of local politiciansKilled along with the town's police chief and several policemen in the Maragondon Massacre.1953Eduardo Ocampo Jr., Vice Mayor of Bacoor, Cavite15 June 1953Manuel P. Monroy, star witness in a criminal case against Justice and Defense Secretary Oscar CasteloOscar CasteloBienvenido "Ben Ulo" MendozaJose de JesusHipolito BonifacioDomingo GonzalesJockey SalvacionFelix MirayPedro EnriquezAugusta Melencio17 May 1955Conrado Dizon, Mayor of Santa Ana, Pampanga12 November 1957Laureano Maraña, Provincial Commander of the Philippine Constabulary in CaviteLeonardo Manecio21 July 1959Lucio Zabala, Mayor of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur
1960s DateVictim(s)Assassin(s)NotesApril 1962Menhart Spielman, American businessman and chief witness in the Stonehill scandalDisappeared and believed to have been killed on a boat while trying to flee to Malaysia.3 January 1963Genaro Alvarez Sr., Mayor of Sipalay, Negros OccidentalPedro Malbajor28 December 1963Benedicto Dayrit, Mayor of Magalang, PampangaHukbong Mapagpalaya sa Bayan12 March 1965Manuel Verzosa, ranking clerk of the House of Representatives Electoral TribunalAngel SarmientoKilled by an assistant of Cavite Representative Justiniano Montano, who was facing an electoral protest at the time.1966Anastacio Gallardo, Mayor of Candaba, PampangaHukbong Mapagpalaya sa Bayan18 September 1967Juan Alberto, former Governor of Catanduanes and head of the Government Service Insurance System20 February 1967James L. Gordon, Mayor of Olongapo, and father of Senator Richard Gordon15 November 1967Manuel Franco, Vice Mayor of Sanchez Mira, CagayanKilled in the presence of the town mayor by the latter's goons.10 July 1968Nicolas Feliciano, Vice Governor of Tarlac28 December 1968Levi Panlilio, Mayor of San Fernando, Pampanga19 November 1969Pedro Alvero, Vice Mayor of Abuyog, Leyte
1970s