A new film on the life of Redemptorist priest Fr. Rosaleo “Rudy” Romano is being produced by the Redemptorist Philippines Cebu Province, 41 years after his abduction in Cebu City in the central Philippines.
Fr. Romano, widely known as Fr. Rudy, was abducted on July 11, 1985, in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City, during the final years of the Martial Law period under former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. He was later classified as a desaparecido, a term used in Latin America and parts of Asia for people who disappear after alleged enforced abductions by state agents.
The film project forms part of the 80th anniversary celebration of the devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help in the Philippines.
The project was confirmed by Fr. Eric Soliven Sevencruz, prefect of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Cebu City and media coordinator of the Redemptorist Philippines Cebu Province, in an interview with Radio Veritas Asia.
The movie traces the life and ministry of Fr. Rudy, who became known for advocating for justice and human rights during the Marcos-era military rule. He participated in demonstrations organized by labor, student, and urban poor groups protesting alleged military abuses and labor violations during the early 1980s.
On the day of his disappearance, Fr. Romano was reportedly on his way to attend a protest activity in the Labangon district of Cebu City when armed men linked to the Military Intelligence Group allegedly abducted him.
His disappearance triggered protests in Cebu and other parts of the Philippines, with Church groups, activists, and human rights advocates demanding accountability and his release.
Despite extensive media coverage and repeated appeals by the Redemptorist community and human rights organizations, no confirmed information about his whereabouts emerged. Cebu-based journalists at the time reported claims that he had been brought to a military camp before disappearing.
No charges were filed against suspected military personnel connected to the case.
The Redemptorist Philippines Cebu Province continued listing Fr. Romano as “alive but missing” in its official directory until 2000, when the congregation formally declared him dead.
The film is being directed by Fr. Julius Martin Malacas.
Speaking to RVA, Fr. Sevencruz said the project is not intended as a political film but as a reflection on truth and social responsibility.
“It is not a political movie,” he said.
He added that the film also seeks to encourage critical engagement with news and information amid the spread of misinformation and disinformation on digital platforms.
“In the past it was easy to tell what is right from wrong, but nowadays some people distort reports by justifying wrongful acts and presenting them as right,” Father Sevencruz said.
According to the producers, the film may be entered in the Manila Film Festival scheduled from December 25, 2026, to January 14, 2027.
The Redemptorists are also considering a premiere screening on December 12, 2026, in connection with Human Rights Day observances, with the aim of renewing public discussion on the sacrifices made during the struggle for democracy in the Philippines.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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