Rafael R. Roces, Jr.

Who was Rafael R. Roces, Jr.?

Rafael "Liling" R. Roces, Jr. is a Filipino journalist, writer, patriot, World War II spy, hero, and martyr. He is the son of Rafael Filomeno Roces, Sr. and Inocencia "Enchay" Reyes. A Manileño, Liling Roces studied at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Liling Roces married Leonor “Noring” Varona on January 13, 1937. He had two children, namely Sylvia Roces-Montilla and Antonio Rafael "Tony" Roces.

During the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, Liling Roces spied for the American troops Commander George Rowe. After a SPYRON courier was caught by Japanese soldiers, Liling Roces, among others, were suspected of providing information to George Rowe and Lt. Commander Charles "Chick" Parsons. Liling Roces was imprisoned and tortured by the Kempeitai in Fort Santiago. On August 28, 1944, Liling Roces, other prisoners, and twenty-three other members of the resistance were boarded onto a truck and brought to the Cementerio del Norte of Manila. Roces and his companions were beheaded and buried in one common ground.