Ben Tumbling

A resident of Malabon, he derived his nickname Ben Tumbling from his job before as a stuntman. His skill later helped him to evade policemen trying to arrest him.[1]

His hatred with police was said to be started when he experienced torture from the hands of the police during his younger years after he was charged of a crime allegedly he didn't commit. However, reports stated that it was intensified when some of the policemen raped his wife.[1][2][3]

His involvement in crimes such as robbery, carjacking and drug trafficking, and the killings of 7 policemen[3] by personal motives within months, led to the police to tag him in their wanted list.[1][2][4] Being a subject by manhunt operations by the Philippine Constabulary for about a year, he was once caught by the forces from the then Western Police District led by Lt. Ernesto Diokno.[4]

He achieved his popularity, especially from the poor locals who shared his profits from his criminal activities, the reason why he was regarded as a hero. It was evident when thousands of them attended his wake after his death in an ambush by the police operatives led by then Intelligence Chief Col. Vicente Vinarao[4] in a Friday of 1981 in Malabon.[1][2]

• Portrayed by Lito Lapid in a 1985 film, Ben Tumbling: A People's Journal Story.
• Portrayed by Ace Espinosa in a 1997 film by Viva Films, Boy Chico, Hulihin si Ben Tumbling.
• Another life story about him was featured in a 2012 film, Alyas Ben Tumbling.[3]
• Featured in History With Lourd De Veyra (2017, News 5).