Rolex 12 is the collective name of twelve of the closest and most powerful advisers of President Ferdinand Marcos during the martial law years in the Philippines from 1972 to 1981.
The goal was for Marcos to gain full authoritarian control of the country during his declaration of martial law in 1972.
Marcos gave the military leadership powers during martial law, taking over from democratically elected officials and court judges.
These atrocities include torture, murder, seizures of property, displacement from homes, and arrest and detention without due process.
Some contend that the gifts were actually Omega watches, but despite this confusion, the name Rolex 12 stuck and is still used to refer to these twelve Marcos associates.