Emma S. Henry[1] (late 1940s[upper-alpha 1] – April 17, 1986[3]) was a Filipino–American[1] police officer whose exploits were the subject of two Filipino film biopics wherein she starred as herself.[2][3][4]

Profile

Born in the late 1940s,[upper-alpha 1] Emma had a father who is from San Francisco, United States, wherein she claimed having relatives in the area's police force.[1]

She was an education graduate; from 1968 to 1971, she took up a master's course in martial arts in Tokyo.[1] Even prior to becoming a police officer, she was proficient in judo and karate, sports not commonly associated with Filipino women at that time.[4] Henry was a high-ranking sikaran black belter,[5] and used to be an Asian karate champion.[6] She reportedly worked once as a radio announcer.[6][upper-alpha 2]

Henry was arguably the first prominent female law enforcement officer in the Philippines.[4] Reportedly became interested in police work, she joined the 33-man police force of Los Baños, Laguna in 1972.[1] Being a patrolwoman[1] and police lieutenant,[4] she was cited for five instances of capturing criminals singlehandedly, mainly with application of skill in martial arts.[1] These acts led her to receive a citation in 1973 as one of the Ten Outstanding Police Officers of the Philippines.[1][5] She won local and foreign awards for her skill in martial arts,[8] as well as medals in her 14-year career.[3] She eventually became the country's first[5] and, by the time of her death, only female police station commander.[8]

Her exploits were the subject of two movies, both portrayed by herself,[3] that depicted her as a heroine.[8] Henry gained further fame after she agreed to play herself in a biopic on her life produced by Kinavesa Productions. Released in 1978, Emma Henry (Policewoman) showcased Henry's martial arts skills and was a success. A sequel, Ang Pagbabalik ni Emma Henry ("The Return of Emma Henry"), followed three years later. Henry starred in another film, Lady Cop.[4]

Despite her modest film career, Henry continued her day job as a police officer.[4] Henry was the police chief of Cabuyao, Laguna[3][8] when she was killed while in the line of duty.[5] On April 17, 1986, she was shot in her car by four suspected New People's Army rebels who had stopped her while on the way to work, and later escaped aboard a van.[3][8][9] NPA was then waging a high-profile campaign to liquidate well-known police officials.[4] The motive was unknown.[8]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Based on newspaper accounts, Henry's age at the time of death was either 38 (birth year may be 1947/1948)[2] or 39 (1946/1947);[3][1] Therefore, her birth occurred between 1946 and 1948.
  2. ↑ It is uncertain if Emma Henry, the police officer, is the same (as a radio personality) mentioned in a 1961 report from a source which, while stating that Emma Henry is a Filipino-American from Laguna, stated also conflicting accounts: She was 18 years old by then (making 1942/1943 as her birth year); a former pre-medical student who planned to pursue medical studies abroad.[7]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Outstanding Police Officer of Philippines is A Woman". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. United Press International. February 25, 1974. p. 11-A. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 "Woman police boss killed". Evening Times. April 17, 1986. p. 17. Retrieved July 2, 2023 – via Google Books.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Philippines' super police chief killed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Reuters. April 18, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved July 2, 2023 – via Google Books.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Garcia 2004.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Sikaran, an asexual fighting art" (PDF). Sikaran Taliba. Vol. 3, no. 2. Sikaran Pilipinas Publications. March–April 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Policewoman Karate Champ". The Daily News of the Virgin Islands. February 9, 1974. p. 4. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ "Emma Henry (Literary Song Movie Magazine, January 30, 1961)". July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Gunman shoot dead woman police chief". New Straits Times. April 18, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved July 2, 2023 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ Ed Amoroso; Rene Alviar (February 15, 2003). "Laguna police chief killed in Cavite ambush; NPAs eyed". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 1, 2023.

General references

  • Garcia, Jessie B. (2004). A Movie Album Quizbook. Iloilo City, Philippines: Erehwon Books & Magazine. p. 151. ISBN 971-93297-0-X.


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