Magsaysay, Ramón (1907–1957)

Filipino politician, president 1953–57. He was elected to the Philippine congress in 1946 and put forward a plan to subdue the communist Hukbalahap (Huk) guerrillas, which persuaded Elpidio Quirino, president from 1948, to appoint him defence secretary in 1950. In this post, he oversaw reform of the army, the capture of leading communists, and the combination of firm military action and land resettlement to counter the leftist Hukbalahap movement. After a dispute with Quirino, he resigned and defected from the ruling Liberal party to join the right-wing Nationalist party and was elected president in 1953, defeating Quirino by a substantial margin. His presidential term saw the maintenance of close ties with the USA and the promotion of land reform.

A guerrilla leader during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines 1941–45, he was appointed military governor of Zambales province by General Douglas MacArthur in 1945.

Magsaysay was educated at the University of the Philippines and Jose Rizal College. He died in an aeroplane crash in 1957, shortly before presidential elections which he had been expected to win. He was succeeded by his vice president, Carlos Garcia.