Human Rights From the Book

Human rights play a crucial role in assessing the enforcement of legal instruments pertaining to
human rights. The Philippines, having committed to various human rights treaties and being a
participant in international organizations, upholds its responsibilities by enacting laws in alignment
with its treaty obligations. The oversight of the implementation of Article 3 of the 1987 Philippine
Constitution is a collaborative effort involving government agencies, human rights watchdogs, and
non-governmental organizations.

The era of Ferdinand Marcos' presidency stands out as a period marked by severe human rights
violations in Philippine history. The imposition of martial law on September 23, 1972, by Marcos
raises uncertainty about the precise count of human rights victims during his regime. Fundamental
rights of Filipinos, including the right to seek judicial review of detentions, were suspended. The
Human Rights Victims Claims Board reported approximately 75,000 gross human rights violations
during the Martial Law period. Amnesty International provides a more detailed breakdown, citing
70,000 people imprisoned, 34,000 subjected to torture, and 3,240 killed.

Identifying the exact extent of human rights violations during Martial Law proves challenging due to
the pervasive fear that kept families silent. Not only were the right to appear before a judge and
freedom of expression suspended, but media outlets were also shuttered on the first day of Martial
Law. The suppression of freedom extended to collegiate writers, many of whom went missing,
becoming "desaparecidos" presumed killed by security forces.

Various methods of torture were employed during Martial Law, including electric shock, the San
Juanico Bridge method, truth serum administration, Russian roulette, beating, pistol-whipping,
strangulation, pepper torture, flat iron burns, water cure, and animal treatment.

Notably, efforts to seek justice for the victims continued even after the Marcos regime. Legal actions,
including cases filed in U.S. federal courts, led to the Marcos government being found guilty of
systematic torture in September 1992. A significant verdict required payment of $2 billion USD in
damages to 9,541 victims, constituting the largest personal verdict in legal history, as highlighted by
Alfred Maccoy.

Liliosa Hilao was a young activist from the “Pamatasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila” who was very critical
about the martial law. She was supposed to graduate “suma cumlaude”, n=but in 1973, she was
arrested, detained, sexually molested and died at the hands of her captors. It was It was at April
1973 when the Philippine Constabulary Anti Narcotics Unit went over to her at her house in Quezon
and arrested her of allegedly going against the government and working with communists. In camp
crame, she was tortured, molested and believed to have been raped by officers. Her sister Gigi was
summoned to go to camp crane to deliver clothes to Liliosa on April 6, 2973. It was the next day
when Gigi was allowed to go home bearing news that her sister was already dead. They said that she
has committed suicide. The body of Liliosa was returned to her family with clear evidence of torture
and rape. Her torso was covered with bandages and the medical legal of V. Luna Hospital held her
autopsy report. Her face was scorched with muriatic acid, her neck and throat badly burned. Her
internal organs were removed to avert initial autopsy reports, and punctures of needles were found
in her arms to imply that she was onto drugs. The military tried to hide Liliosa’s body in an attempt
to do a re-autopsy, but angry students prevented that from happening. Later on, the military gave
 several version of the cause of her death. One stated that she committed suicide inside the
bathroom of camp crame. The second report said that Liliosa died due to drug addiction, while
another said it was due to heart attack.

Liliosa Hilao, a young activist hailing from the "Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila," passionately
opposed martial law. Despite being on track to graduate with honors, her life took a tragic turn in
1973 when she was apprehended, detained, sexually assaulted, and ultimately lost her life at the
hands of her captors. In April 1973, the Philippine Constabulary Anti Narcotics Unit raided her
residence in Quezon, accusing her of dissenting against the government and collaborating with
communists.

Upon being taken to Camp Crame, Liliosa endured torture and sexual assault allegedly perpetrated
by officers. On April 6, 1973, her sister Gigi was called to deliver clothes to Liliosa at the camp.
Shockingly, the next day, Gigi returned home with the devastating news of Liliosa's death,
supposedly by suicide. However, evidence of torture and rape on Liliosa's body, concealed with
bandages, contradicted the official narrative.

Liliosa's face bore the marks of muriatic acid, with severe burns on her neck and throat. The autopsy
report from V. Luna Hospital revealed the grim details, including the removal of internal organs to
hinder the initial autopsy, and needle punctures in her arms to falsely suggest drug use. Attempts to
conceal Liliosa's body for a re-autopsy were thwarted by outraged students.

Various conflicting accounts of Liliosa's demise emerged from the military, ranging from suicide in
the camp's bathroom to attributing her death to drug addiction or a heart attack. The unsettling
circumstances surrounding Liliosa Hilao's tragic fate underscore the complexities and challenges
faced by those who dared to oppose the martial law regime.

Another victim of the Marshal Law was Hermon Lagman, a lawyer and an advocate of labor rights. In the
University of the Philippines, he served as the managing editor of the “Philippine Collegian” and the
editor in chief of the “Law register” of the UP College of Law. Upon passing the board exam, he worked
pro bono for poor workers fighting unfair labor practices. He was first arrested and imprisoned for two
months without charges in 1972 and was detained in 1976. At the time Lagman was serving several labor
unions that were opposed to the Marcos regime, By 1977, Lagman disappeared and became part of the
“desaperacidos”

Satur Ocampo is another human rights victim during Marcos’ time. He was a journalist and political
activist even before the Martial Law era. He was a natural target during the Martial Law due to the
nature of his work, which led him going into hiding when Marcos declared Martial Law. After 4 years of
declaration of Martial Law, Ocampo was captured and brought to prison. In his article published in
“bulatlat”, he said that he knew the ordeal that he will go through in that arrest. He prepared himself
and survived the ordeal of being in prison for 9 years. According to Ocampo’s account, a lieutenant by
the name of Amado Espino cocked a rifle at him when the lieutenant couldn’t get any information of
him. He only survived that moment by telling his captor that should he shoot him dead, he could no
longer present him live to Marcos. During his captivity, Ocampo was placed in a cell manifested by
mosquitoes and was tortured while blindfolded. His head torturer was Major Benjamin Libarnes.
According to Michael Charleston Chua, Ocampo was electrocuted while coca cola drinks were being
poured unto him to cause more pain. His nipples and genitalia were also burned. He was also made sure
to eat manure and was threatened to be killed. He was able to escape in 1985 and still continues to fight
for the freedom of political detainees and the rights of labor groups.

Shortened:

Human rights are essential in evaluating the adherence to human rights-related legal instruments.
The Philippines, committed to various international treaties, aligns its laws with treaty obligations.
The oversight of Article 3 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution involves collaboration between
government agencies, human rights watchdogs, and non-governmental organizations.

The period of Ferdinand Marcos' presidency is notorious for severe human rights violations in
Philippine history. Martial law, declared on September 23, 1972, led to widespread uncertainty
about the number of human rights victims. Approximately 75,000 gross human rights violations were
reported during this period, including imprisonment, torture, and killings.

Determining the full extent of Martial Law human rights abuses is challenging due to widespread
fear. Rights such as judicial review and freedom of expression were suspended, and media outlets,
including collegiate writers, faced suppression. Torture methods included electric shock, the San
Juanico Bridge method, truth serum administration, Russian roulette, and others.

Efforts to seek justice persisted after the Marcos regime. Legal actions, including cases in U.S. federal
courts, found the government guilty of systematic torture in 1992. A historic verdict mandated a $2
billion USD payment to 9,541 victims.

Liliosa Hilao, a passionate activist critical of martial law, faced arrest, torture, and sexual assault.
Despite being on track to graduate with honors, she died in custody in 1973. Official reports of
suicide were contradicted by evidence of torture and rape.

Hermon Lagman, a lawyer and labor rights advocate, was arrested and imprisoned multiple times for
opposing the Marcos regime. Disappearing in 1977, he became one of the "desaparecidos."
Lagman's dedication to defending the rights of workers against unfair labor practices led to his
persecution during Martial Law.

Satur Ocampo, a journalist and political activist predating the Martial Law era, became a target
during Marcos' regime. He went into hiding when Martial Law was declared, but after four years, he
was captured and imprisoned for nine years. Ocampo, in an article for "Bulatlat," recounted the
harrowing experience, including an incident where a lieutenant, Amado Espino, aimed a rifle at him.
Ocampo survived by convincing his captor that killing him would prevent his live presentation to
Marcos.

During captivity, Ocampo endured a mosquito-infested cell and blindfolded torture, orchestrated by
Major Benjamin Libarnes. Michael Charleston Chua reported electrocution while Coca-Cola was
poured on him to intensify pain. Ocampo's nipples and genitalia were burned, and he was forced to
eat manure while facing threats of death. Escaping in 1985, Ocampo remains an advocate for
political detainees and labor group rights.