Palaban

Title: Palaban (lit.: Fighter)

Genre: Action

Runtime: 1h 45m

Released: 1 March 2000

Country of Origin: Philippines

Language: Filipino

Director: Toto Natividad

Writer: Toto Natividad (story) • Willy Laconsay (story & screenplay)

Production Company: Millennium Cinema

Synopsis: Major Jack Morales, a respected and highly trained police officer, proved to be a model of justice in the face of increasing criminal activity in the city. With steely determination and an unwavering commitment to upholding the law, he led his team in a tireless pursuit of justice, leaving no stone unturned to stop nefarious activities that threatened the safety of the community.

In a twist of fate, Major Morales was tasked with an extremely important mission: to take down a notorious and violent gang that was wreaking havoc through bank robberies. This gang, led by the cunning and ruthless former Major Raul Cordova, was no ordinary criminal organisation. Cordova, a former member of an elite special forces unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), had a level of tactical expertise and strategic thinking that made him a formidable adversary.

As Major Morales dug deeper into the investigation, he discovered the complex web of connections Cordova had built that extended far beyond the criminal underworld. It became clear that this was not just a fight against a gang of bank robbers, but a fight against a well-organised union that had infiltrated various sectors of society.

As Major Morales undertakes this monumental task, his personal life begins to collapse under the weight of his professional responsibilities. His relationship with his wife, once filled with love and understanding, began to deteriorate. The long hours and constant danger that came with his job had taken a toll on their marriage. To make matters worse, his colleague and lover, Senior Police Officer II (SPO2) Ruth Jacob, added fuel to the fire and further strained the already fragile bond between Morales and his wife.

Amid the chaos and unrest around him, Major Morales found himself at a crossroads. He had to make difficult decisions, not only for the sake of his career but also to save his personal life. The lines between good and evil blurred as he embarked on the treacherous path before him, torn between duty and the desire for some semblance of happiness.

In this gripping tale of crime and redemption, Major Jack Morales is tested like never before. With each passing day, the stakes rose and the consequences of his actions became more serious. The fate of the city, his marriage and his sanity were at stake as he embarked on a journey that would push him to the limits of his physical and emotional endurance.

Will Major Morales manage to bring down the notorious gang and restore peace to the city? Can he save his crumbling marriage and find solace in the midst of chaos? Only time will tell how Major Jack Morales' story will unfold, revealing the complex facets of his character and the challenges he faced in his pursuit of justice and personal redemption.

In the middle of one of Morales' meticulously planned operations, he comes face to face with one of Cordoba's most notorious gang members. As fate would have it, this gang member was Cordova's full brother, recently married in holy matrimony. The irony of the situation was not lost on Morales, who recognised the gravity of the consequences.

When the news of this unfortunate incident reached Cordova's ears, a storm of rage and anger broke out within him. Morales' betrayal of his brother's life was an unforgivable offence in Cordova's eyes. Filled with a burning desire for revenge, Cordova vowed to make Morales and his entire group pay for their heinous act.

In a chilling display of anger, Cordova staged a carefully planned attack on Senior Police Officer II (SPO2) Liwag, a respected member of the law enforcement community. Liwag was a pillar of strength and justice in the eyes of his colleagues and the community he served. However, his commitment to upholding the law made him a target of Cordova's revenge.

Tragically, Cordoba's thirst for retribution did not end with the assassination of Liwag. In a terrible turn of events, Cordova set his sights on Senior Police Officer II (SPO2) Jacob, a brave and fearless woman who had dedicated her life to protecting the innocent. After Cordova mercilessly killed her brother, he subjected Jacob to unspeakable horrors before finally ending her life.

Morales and his family were not spared from Cordova's wrath. In a brazen act of violence, Cordova launched a brutal attack against Morales and his relatives. However, through a stroke of luck, Morales managed to narrowly escape the clutches of his vengeful enemy.

The standoff between law enforcement and the notorious gang led by Cordova grew into a full-blown battle fueled by a seemingly unquenchable thirst for revenge. The streets became a battlefield where the forces of justice and the forces of evil engaged in a deadly dance of vengeance. The stakes were high as lives were at stake and the entire society was on the brink of chaos.

In this epic battle of wills, the lines between good and evil become blurred as the quest for justice merges with the quest for revenge. The consequences of Morales' actions affected the lives of everyone involved, leaving a trail of devastation and heartache. The battle between law enforcement and the notorious gang became a poignant testament to the destructive power of revenge and forever entered the annals of this Filipino Action Film.

TOP BILLED CAST & CREW:
ACTOR	ROLE
Rudy Fernandez	Major Jack Morales
Ara Mina	Ruth Jacob
Roi Vinzon	Ex-Major Cordova
Jude Estrada	Robert Liwag
Daisy Reyes	Jenny Morales
Efren Reyes Jr.	Major Torres (as Efren Reyes)
Bembol Roco	Barikan
Alvin Anson	Lito Cordova
King Gutierrez	Task Force Cobra Member
Edgar Mande	Task Force Cobra Member
Gerald Ejercito	Task Force Cobra Member
Neil Sandoval	Task Force Cobra Member
Rico Roman	Task Force Cobra Member
Levi Ignacio	Cordova's Men
Dindo Arroyo	Cordova's Men
Joey Padilla	Cordova's Men
Marco Salvador	Cordova's Men
Paolo Gamboa	Cordova's Men
R.G. Gutierrez	Cordova's Men
Gamaliel Viray	Colonel Magpantay (as Gammy Viray)
Polly Cadsawan	Warden
Kirby De Jesus	Revolver (as BJ De Jesus)
Mike Gayoso	Toto
Ernie Ortega	Master
Ben Dato	Retired Colonel
Andrea M. Bautista	Field Reporter (as Andrea Bautista)
Cristina Pecson	TV Reporter
Cris Daluz	Liwag's Father-in-law
Maritess Samson	Liwag's Wife (as Marithez Samson)
Zsazsa Manalo	Liwag's Sister
Azukar Moreno	Wife of Lito Cordova
John Susi	TV Commentator
Sauro Cotoco	Bank President (as Sauro Gotoco)
Rachel Cruz	Wife of Major Cordova
Alex Hernandez	Daughter of Major Cordova
Rommel Montano	Hold-up Gang Member
Boy Roque	Hold-up Gang Member
July Hidalgo	Hold-up Gang Member
Gilbert Amor	Hold-up Gang Member
Kim Laurel	Hold-up Gang Member
Nosan Stuntmen	Policeman of Morales
Emil Padilla	Bank Manager
Marivic Tiburcio	Bank Manager
Jack Barri	Cordova's Other Men (as Jack Barry)
Arleen De Leon	Cordova's Other Men
Rey Fabian	Cordova's Other Men
Jun Dauz	Cordova's Other Men
Paul Dela Cruz	Cordova's Other Men
Cesar Iglesia	Cordova's Other Men (as Cesar Iglesias)
Baby David	Bank Personnel
Alot Marcelo	Bank Personnel
Marian Baltazar	Bank Personnel
Romina David	Bank Personnel
Produced by
Eric M. Cuatico	producer (as Eric Cuatico)
Lydia de Leon	supervising producer
Jesse Ejercito	executive producer (as Jesus M. Ejercito)
Jinggoy Estrada	executive producer (as Jose P. Ejercito)
Music by
Edwin 'Kiko' Ortega	(as Kiko Ortega)
Cinematography by	Ver Dauz
Editing by
Joyce Bernal	(as Bb. Joyce Bernal)
Production Design by	Boy Tablizo
Art Direction by	Willy Tolentino
Makeup Department
Virginia Apolinario	makeup artist (as Virgie Apolinario)
Geline Quiamco	assistant makeup artist
Production Management
Alot Marcelo	post-production manager / production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ferdie Salvador	associate director
Jennie Uy	assistant director
Art Department
Ompong Amandy	propsman
Ruel Balingasa	propsman
Manny Roque	set man
Natoy Sebastian	set man
Jimmy Tablizo	propsman
Bimboy Tanaleon	propsman
Sound Department
Raffy Baladjay	sound engineer
Dodong Benlot	sound effects
Mike Curran	boom operator (as Miguel Curran)
Jojo Jaince	soundman
Nestor Mutia	sound engineer
Lucy Quinto	dubbing supervisor
Special Effects by
Erick Torrente	armory and effects
Visual Effects by
Marie Adieline	computer operator (as Marie Adieline E.)
Rey Erestain	titles
Arturo Jarlego	optical operator
Adlai Ray	computer operator
George Toralba	animation camera
Stunts
Val Iglesias	fight director
Eddie Mañalac	stunt driver
Camera and Electrical Department
Victor Abig	hmi operator
Jimmy Araya	grip
Duarte Armea	best boy
Victor Armea	best boy
Ruben Atienza	dolly operator
Noel Banaag	video cableman
Neil Bautista	assistant camera
Francisco Beltran	grip
Tony Berin	generator operator
Victor Buencamino	video assist operator
Rudy Calleja	grip
Danny Dauz	gaffer (as Dannie Dauz) / second assistant camera (as Dannie Dauz)
Joel De Guzman	best boy / camera lifter
Rudy Diño	second camera
Andres Galang	grip
Ramon Labadria	grip (as Ramon Labandria)
Noel Lumibao	clapper loader
Pepito Mirador	head crew (as Pepito Mirador Sr.)
Nilo Odiaman	still photographer
Orlando Pelovillo	electrician (as Orlando Pelovello)
Jojo Quiamco	best boy
Juancho Quiamco	third camera
Alex Soriano	best boy
Alex Teope	hmi operator
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jo Estacio	wardrobe (as E.J. Estacio)
Alex Singson	wardrobe
Editorial Department
Richard Aning	assistant film editor
Rizalino Costales	assistant film editor
Mario Manguni	assistant film editor (as Amboy Manguni)
Pepito Ortiz	assistant film editor (as Pitong Ortiz)
Edwin Atilano Salvador	assistant film editor (as Edwin Salvador)
Primo Vinarao	assistant film editor
Transportation Department
Ruel David	service driver
Jun Palenzuela	driver: grip truck
Danny Salimpade	unit bus driver
Additional Crew
Aster Amoyo	publicist
Rudy Basco	schedule master
Zeny Basco	talent coordinator
Baby David	production accountant
Cely De Guia	talent coordinator
Ernie Forte	field cashier
Reyneth Lapid	caterer
Paquito Y. Reyes	sales manager (as Paquito Reyes)
Josie Tagle	talent coordinator

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