Would You Have Survived Martial Law?

The safest choice would have been: Don't meet with him

Boyet Mijares was only 16 years old in 1977 when he received a call that his disappeared father (whistleblower and writer Primitivo Mijares) was still alive. The caller invited the younger Mijares to see him.

A few days later, Boyet's body was found dumped outside Manila, his eyeballs protruding, his chest perforated with multiple stab wounds, his head bashed in, and his hands, feet and genitals mangled.

The safest choice would have been: Leave the rally right away

Juvelyn Jaravello was a parish-worker in her home province of Negros Occidental towards the end of martial law.

In September 1985, a three-day people’s strike – welgang bayan – was planned to be held all over the island of Negros. On the afternoon of the second day of the strike, they were attacked by constabulary soldiers, paramilitary members, and armed goons of local sugar plantation owners.

As they fired water cannons on the demonstrators, Jaravello moved to the frontline. Next, the soldiers started throwing teargas canisters. Then machine guns from atop the municipal hall started firing. A stampede followed. Jaravello and 19 others died in the Escalante massacre, mostly from gunshot wounds; hundreds were hurt.

(With excerpts from www.bantayog.org)

The safest choice would have been: No, stay quiet

Archimedes Trajano was 21 when he questioned Imee Marcos on why she was the National Chairman of the Kabataang Barangay during an open forum.

He was forcibly taken from the venue by Imee's bodyguards, and was tortured and thrown out of a building window, all because the presidential daughter was irked by his question.

The safest choice would have been: Stand back and let them search the house

Liliosa Hilao was a college student when martial law was declared.

One evening in April 1973, drunken soldiers barged into the Hilao family residence looking for her brother. When she insisted that they produce a search warrant or an arrest order, the soldiers beat her up, then handcuffed and took her away to Camp Crame.

The following day her older sister Alice was called to the Camp Crame Station Hospital. Liliosa’s body bore visible marks of severe torture, and even sexual abuse. She was already dead.

(With excerpts from www.bantayog.org)

The safest choice would have been: Let the opportunity pass

Albert Enriquez was a young humanrights worker in Quezon when he was abducted in 1985.

He volunteered to work with the local unit of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, which had been documenting cases of violations and military abuses. He assisted prominent humanrights lawyers Joker Arroyo, Wigberto Tañada and Ed Abcede in a court case involving political detainees.

Enriquez was on his way home when two armed men dragged him from the tricycle he was riding into a car. He shouted: “I am Abet Enriquez. My parents are Mario Enriquez and Clarita Rivera. Tell my parents I’ve been picked up by the military!”

Two days later, his family heard that tricycle drivers in the area had been talking about the incident.

(With excerpts from www.bantayog.org)

The safest choice would have been: Give up your passion and live quietly

Maria Lorena Barros was a student activist during martial law.

When President Ferdinand Marcos suspended the writ of habeas corpus in 1971, Barros was one of 63 student leaders charged with subversion. She went underground, helping to fight the dictatorship. She continued to write poems, songs and essays from the underground. In 1974, the regime announced a P35,000 reward for her capture.

On March 24, 1976, Barros was seriously wounded in an armed encounter with constabulary soldiers. Medical treatment was promised by her captors if she would cooperate with them, but she said she would rather die for her beliefs. She was shot in the nape. She was 28 years old.

(With excerpts from www.bantayog.org)

The safest choice would have been: Leave them to deal with their problems

Crisostomo Cailing lived and practiced law in Mindanao during martial law.

Cailing was not one to make fiery speeches, but he consistently defended the victims of military abuses. He went to court to protest against illegal arrests, and he looked after the rights and welfare of the numerous political detainees. He shunned opportunities to become rich, never owned a car, and chose to live a simple life. His clients were invariably poor, and at times it was he who gave them money for their needs.

One evening in early July 1985, Cailing was at home, seated in front of an open window, when a gunman took aim and killed him before walking away to get aboard a motorcycle waiting one block away. His daughter, 15, witnessed the murder.

(With excerpts from www.bantayog.org)