Review of IN THY NAME: A Modern-day Martyrdom

March 6, 2025

One day in year 2000, Abu Sayyaf forces led by Khaddafy Janjalani (JC de Vera) and Abu Sabaya (Mon Confiado) attacked the campuses of two schools in Tumahumbong and Sinangkapan in the province of Basilan. They kidnapped 50 teachers and students and took them as prisoners in their jungle hideouts in Camp Abdujarak and Punoh Muhadji, to be released only when the government acceded to the rebels' demands. 

One of the hostages was Catholic priest Fr. Rhoel Gallardo (McCoy de Leon), the chaplain of the Claret School of Tumahumbong, working with Principal Rey Rubio (Soliman Cruz). Fr. Gallardo hailed from Castillejos, Zambales, the son of Dominador (Richard Cuan) and Raquel (Ana Abad Santos) Gallardo. For fearlessly speaking out for physical and spiritual needs of his fellow hostages, Gallardo was subjected to intense physical torture in captivity.

This film depicts yet another tragic episode in the long-running conflict between Christians and Muslims in Mindanao. The film opens with a disclaimer -- "The film does not intend to create conflict between Christians and Muslims." They support that by stating that the actions of Abu Sayyaf do not reflect on Muslims as a whole. There was even a line by a Muslim politician in the film who expressed that Abu Sayyaf went against Muslim tenets.

They really needed to clear this up right up front because the Abu Sayyaf leaders here were just so diabolical. With Mon Confiado portraying him, Abu Sabaya was depicted as a sadistic man who acted on his perversions. JC de Vera portrayed Khadaffy Janjalani as a rabid Muslim fanatic who hated all Christians for claiming Mindanao. That scene where he punished Fr. Gallardo for saying Mass showed a terrifying aspect of de Vera we have not seen before. 

As Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, McCoy de Leon looked like he went through hell in this film, from his first scene leading a prayer in the San Vicente Ferrer Parish Church, to his final scene, lifeless on the forest floor with unrecognizable face swollen with bruises. We only knew De Leon mostly for his Hashtag dancing and his rom-com movies, so the range he showed in this film was beyond any dramatic effort we have seen from him before, and we respect that. 

Opening this film on the first day of Lent somehow portends the decision of co-writer, director (and Mayor of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte) Ceasar Soriano  to treat the depiction of Gallardo's final days under his Abu Sayyaf captors as Jesus Christ's Way of the Cross under the Romans. In case we miss the metaphor, his mother in Castillejos even had a Pieta statue on their altar to pray to. This overtly hagiographic treatment may be inspired by the news that Fr. Gallardo's martyrdom is being submitted for consideration for sainthood. 

Recognizable character actors played hostages, like Alex Medina, Elora Espano, Ynez Veneracion, Aya Fernandez, Kenken Nuyad. John Estrada cameoed as BGen Narciso Abaya. Gold Aceron cameoed as Fr. Rhoel's autistic brother Dong. Soldiers who were awarded for their bravery in this rescue mission, like 2Lt Herbert Dilag (Jerome Ponce) and 1Lt Andrew Bacala (Yves Flores), were featured. It was rather alarming to see that the gunfire in the final shootout seem so indiscriminate, hitting more hostages than we'd like to see.  7/10