LAWYER-industrialist Jesus “Chito” V. Ayala, considered the FOREMOST leader of the anti-dictatorship movement in Southern Mindanao IN THE 70s AND 80s, passed away Tuesday night following a lingering renal problem that caused other health complications.
Ayala, 82, supported the opposition activities such as the Yellow Friday Movement and financed anti-Marcos candidates during Martial Law. He also bankrolled the campaign in the region of former President Corazon Aquino during the 1986 snap elections against the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and was preparing the grounds for a civil disobedience to be launched by Mrs. Aquino in Davao City for Mindanao when the Edsa Revolt erupted in Manila.
Ayala’s remains were cremated Wednesday noon following a necrological service attended by his family and friends, and politicians led by Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and Gov. Corazon N. Malanyaon whose career he had supported.
Journalist Rene Lumawag, a friend of Ayala, said his demise was not only the loss of his family and friends but also of “those who sought for changes in the government.”
“The country has lost one good man who had a vision of what the Philippines must be. Another good man died, a real good man who is a friend to many…a friend of the world,” said Lumawag.
City officials also expressed the same sentiment.
“Our family grieves over his death,” said Mayor Sara Duterte.
Described as highly political, Ayala served as presidential consultant of then President Cory, Presidential-Legislative Liaison Officer holding office at the House of Representatives and chairman of the Regional Development Council for a decade.
“He was one of those who led the forces in Davao–those who defied the forces of Marcos, at great peril to his personal safety and his family. He financed those who were offering themselves as an alternative to the dictatorship,” said veteran journalist and editor of Edge Davao Antonio M. Ajero.
Days before the Edsa revolt, Ayala was preparing the ground to become a staging point for a civil disobedience movement, including a tax revolt, as a result of Marcos refusal to step down after rigging the snap elections, according to Ajero.
When the Edsa revolution caught Mrs. Aquino was caught in Cebu, she was actually on her way to Davao to launch the civil disobedience movement prepared by Ayala and his allies in the Davao and Cotabato regions.
Even some international journalists who covered Ayala, Ajero said, had offered to shield him and carry him out of the country.
Many of the multi-million peso infrastructure and development projects that happened during Aquino and after were planned during Ayala’s time as RDC chairman.
Ayala, a son of a lawyer and also a lawyer himself, is the chair of the JVA Group of Companies that owns the Eden Nature Park and Resort and the popular entertainment and commercial center Matina Town Square (MTS).
Ayala’s JVA Management Corp. also owns TriStar Group of Banana Companies involved in growing and exporting low chemical-dosed cavendish bananas.
Before engaging into the banana plantation business, Ayala was the Vice President of the Commercial Trust Banking Corporation.
He is married to Fe Misa, daughter of Eriberto Misa Sr. who was once director of the Bureau of Prisons and sister of Eriberto Jr., also a director of the Bureau of Prisons and member of the 1971 Constitution Convention.
Ayala is the brother of poet Jose, who is the father of Dabawenyo musicians Joey Ayala and his sister Cynthia Alexander.
