Jerry Barican, activist leader, dies at 66
MANILA, Philippines—Fernando “Jerry” Barican, Harvard-trained lawyer, noted student activist and spokesperson of former President Joseph Estrada, died Friday night at Makati Medical Center. He was 66.
In a Facebook post, writer Nelson Navarro said his friend Barican died at 9:15 p.m.
Lawyer Trixie Angeles, another friend, said in an interview over dzBB radio that Barican had been “medyo comatose” for about a month.
Reports had it Barican had been on life support since Aug. 31 after suffering a stroke. He reportedly had heart surgery in February.
Barican was chair of the University of the Philippines (UP) Student Council and a leader of the activist Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan (SDK) when the historic street protests against President Ferdinand Marcos called the First Quarter Storm broke out in 1970.
He was arrested by the military upon the declaration of martial law by Marcos in September 1972. In 1978, he ran for the Senate together with former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in the opposition Laban party, in Marcos’ attempt to show the world there was democracy in the Philippines.
In 1992, in an ironic twist, Barican ran again for the Senate but this time with the Nationalist People’s Coalition party of Eduardo Cojuangco, a staunch Marcos ally.
Barican was a product of the Ateneo Grade School and UP Prep School. He obtained his college undergraduate degree (cum laude) and law degree from UP, then went on to Harvard Law School for his Master’s of Law in 1979.
After clerking for Rep. Millicent Fenwick (R-NJ) in the United States Congress, he returned to the country to join the Bank of the Philippine Islands and open a private legal practice. He also taught law at UP and served on the board of the Philippine Constitution Association, among other organizations.
In 1998, he joined the Estrada Cabinet as presidential spokesperson. He was also appointed to the board of the Development Bank of the Philippines, where he served until the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Barican’s wake is at St. Alphonsus de Liguori Church in Magallanes Village, Makati. Necrological rites are set for Monday at 7 p.m. Details of the interment at Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque, will be announced later. Kristine Felisse Mangunay
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