Namfrel founder Jose Concepcion, 92

Jose Concepcion Jr., founder of election watchdog National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), passed away yesterday at the age of 92.

- LOUELLA DESIDERIO

Also known as Joecon, he is survived by his wife Maria Victoria Araneta, their eight children and 31 grandchildren and his twin brother, Raul.

The former trade secretary “was the epitome of the patriot-industrialist,” Concepcion’s family said in a statement.

“As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1971, he championed constitutional principles that would democratize the nation’s capital base to allow Filipino manufacturers to thrive,” they noted.

“During the 1986 snap presidential elections, he moved thousands of ordinary Filipinos to join Namfrel,” they recalled.

Concepcion was detained during martial law declared by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

“He organized his fellow detainees to take turns with chores and keep order inside their cell block,” Concepcion’s family said.

Concepcion served as village chief of Forbes Park after his retirement.