John Jayson Sapa

BACOMM 2-A

Martia Law is a temporary rule by military authorities of a designated area in time

of emergency when the civil authorities are deemed unable to function. The legal effects
of declaration of martial law differ in various jurisdictions, but they generally involve a
suspension of normal civil rights and the extension to the civilian population of summary
military justice or military law. So here is the student that I’ve searched in internet that
suffer the cruelty under the martial law era.

Liliosa Hilao was a talented young woman with many friends and extracurricular
activities, Hilao garnered honors all through school years; she was due to graduate cum
laude with a degree in communication arts at Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila,
who was an editor at the university’s paper “ HASIK” . Although she is a student who is
engage in activism, she didn’t join rallies or shout slogans, because she have asthma
and allergies that prevented her from being more physically active. Liliosa Hilao had a
strong sense of justice and mind of her own. However in times of martial law she
showed her opinions on the happenings in the Philippines under the flagship of Marcos
regime by the use of pieces of writings where indicative her stance on martial law.
Some of her works are: “ The Vietnamization of the Philippines “, and “ Democracy is
Dead in the Philippines under Martial Law”.

Unfortunately, year 1973 month of April, some drunken soldiers visited there home and
looking for Hilao’s brother-in-law who is also a member of Constabulary Anti- Narcostic
Unit, when one member of the family insisted that they produced a search warrant or
an arrest order, Lt. Arturo Castillo of the Philippine Constabulary Anti-Narcostic Unit
(CANU) presented only a constabulary card as a claim to Hilao’s brother in the front of
them. Liliosa on that day just arrived there house and when she enters their home Lt.
Castillo subjected her with extreme violence, repeatedly beat her until she ooze and
covered with her own blood. She was been handcuffed and bring to Camp Crame
headquarters of the Philippine Constabulary ( now the Philippine National police), for
more and massive questioning.

For instance her sister named Josefina was also arrested of CANU and was bring also
to Camp Crame. As the blood of family is thicker than water, Josefina saw Hilao but was
not permitted to talk or spoke to her. She also saw some parts of Liliosa’s body,
specifically the face which were beaten very hard that brings her to a critical stage. An
indication and proof that she was being tortured and abused during her stay at Camp
Crame. A sad reality under the cruel government in the Philippines. On April 7, Liliosa
was on a critical condition and was been confined at Camp Crame Station Hospital due
to her serious injuries came from those who have a violent hands. She was been
confined in the emergency room station and seen that her face was disfigured. Have
several notable injuries and bruises , several needle puncture marks on her arm and an
opening at her throat. Liliosa after few minutes has been declared dead. The necropsy
of the hospital station declared an cardio respiratory arrest as the cause of her death.
however other authorities claimed that Hilao committed suicide by drinking muriatic
acid. Officials at the highest levels declared the case closed. But no one really believed
that the military had nothing to do with her death.

In my own point of view based on the article that I’ve read. I think Liliosa‘s true cause of
death is not cardio respiratory arrest but was the enhance injuries and abomination treat
of government official. It was said also, in that time the facilities and equipments in the
hospital station is not working. Also the medical staff is not attending her fairly. And
according to her family, her room there is smelled strongly of formalin. Were I think
wrong treatment was also the another reason of her death.

Government on that time was not a fair opponent. Who has the strong power should
remain powerful even though they commit bad things or doings to there fellow
countrymen. Being true in times of martial law is a mistake, people under higher sector
think that they was been mistreathen of those who are under fringe of society. Specially
those who expose the wrong management of their party in the nation by the use of pens
and paper.

Liliosa Hilao don’t deserve her death. As a Filipino journalist who do her job, exposing
the truth behind the countries situation is not a sin. She just want her other Filipino
“Kababayan”,

to be awake and do the right things instead of doing the same which can lead to a more
unfair treatment and violence. Her life was the biggest reason why we the Filipino
should do the right things specially when voting or imposing a more responsible, kind
and understanding leader. Who can manage everything without the presence of
violence. Liliosa Hilao , like Dr. Jose Rizal make use the writing as their sword on the
war without hurting someone. Also just like our National Hero she died doing good
deeds to our country where I think she deserve also to be called as a hero.

Because of the tragedy, several members of the Hilao family had leave their home to
avoid arrest and detention, or worse. For years, they were aware of being under military
surveillance. At her graduation ceremony held two weeks afterward by the Pamantasan
ng Lungsod ng Maynila. A seat for a cum laude was kept vacant for Liliosa Hilao who
was conferred her degree, posthumously. On the other hand, her municipality Bulan,
Sorsogon where she was born named a street under to her in year 2001.
Liliosa Hilao was now known as a Filipina student activist who was killed while under
government detention during martial law in the Philippines and was remembered as the
first prisoner die in detention during martial law.

Source:

The Heroes who Fought Martial Law: LIliosa Hilao

https://martiallawmuseum.ph