Emma Henry
Encyclopedia
Emma Henry was a Filipino
police officer
whose exploits were the subject of two Filipino film biopics wherein she starred as herself.
officer in the Philippines
. A police officer
, she was proficient in judo
and karate
, sports not commonly associated with Filipino women in the early 1970s. As a police lieutenant
in Laguna, she stood out in the male-dominated police force. In 1973, she was named as one of the country's "Ten Outstanding Policemen". She eventually became the first woman to be assigned as a police station
commander.
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.
Despite her modest film career, Henry never gave up her day job as a police officer. In 1986, she was shot dead while in the line of duty. At the time of her death, it was widely suspected that she had been assassinated
by members of the New People's Army
, which was then waging a high-profile campaign to liquidate well-known police officials.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
whose exploits were the subject of two Filipino film biopics wherein she starred as herself.
Profile
Henry was arguably the first prominent female law enforcementPolice
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officer in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. A police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
, she was proficient in judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, sports not commonly associated with Filipino women in the early 1970s. As a police lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in Laguna, she stood out in the male-dominated police force. In 1973, she was named as one of the country's "Ten Outstanding Policemen". She eventually became the first woman to be assigned as a police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
commander.
Henry gained further fame after she agreed to play herself in a biopic
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
on her life produced by Kinavesa Productions. Released in 1978, Emma Henry (Policewoman) showcased Henry's martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
skills and was a success. A sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
, Ang Pagbabalik ni Emma Henry ("The Return of Emma Henry"), followed three years later. Henry starred in another film, Lady Cop.
Despite her modest film career, Henry never gave up her day job as a police officer. In 1986, she was shot dead while in the line of duty. At the time of her death, it was widely suspected that she had been assassinated
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
by members of the New People's Army
New People's Army
The New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. It was formed on March 29, 1969. The Maoist NPA conducts its armed guerrilla struggle based on the strategical line of 'protracted people's war'.The NPA exacts so called "revolutionary taxes" from business owners...
, which was then waging a high-profile campaign to liquidate well-known police officials.