Human rights groups, led by Hustisya! (Unification of Victims for Justice), gathered at the Oblation Plaza at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman yesterday, August 24, to honor and pay tribute to revolutionary martyrs. This is part of their commemoration of Heroes’ Day on August 26.

The group gave recognition to Maria Concepcion Araneta-Bocala, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant, who was martyred on August 15 in Iloilo. Other martyrs of Iloilo were honored in the encounters this August. Benjamin Cortel was murdered here on August 5; Jose Jerry Takaisan, Rewilmar Torrato and another companion, on August 7; and Romulo Iturriaga Gangoso, Armando Rogelio Sabares, Aurelio Bosque, Jovelyn Silverio and Jielmor Gauranoz on August 8.

They also paid tribute to distinguished revolutionary leaders Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria-Tiamzon, who were brutally murdered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Catbalogan City, Samar on August 21, 2022, along with eight others.

“Besides paying tribute and remembering the country’s heroes, commemorating Heroes’ Day is also an occasion for us to reflect and be inspired by the lives they dedicated towards liberating the country from oppression and exploitation,” the group said. They stressed that the Filipino people will never forget and relinquish their heroic example of wholeheartedly serving the people.

At the same time, the group emphasized the ongoing call for justice for the victims. They said part of the action is to highlight the respect for the international humanitarian law (IHL) especially during its August commemoration.

“It is ironic that those we are honoring today as national heroes are all victims of the Marcos Jr regime’s brutal violation of IHL. Aside from protecting civilians, IHL strictly prohibits the killing or harming of combatants who are no longer capable of fighting,” that group.

Under the Marcos regime, state forces killed nearly 70 hors de combat revolutionaries. It brutally enforces a “take no prisoners” policy that is a serious violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the First Geneva Convention, which guarantees the rights of sick and wounded combatants, and Article 41 of Additional Protocol I, which prohibits in any attack against hostile forces recognized as hors de combat.

But there is a higher principle why these heroes should not be reviled. This is because they are revolutionaries. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) recognizes that rebellion against state tyranny and oppression as a last resort is the most basic foundation of revolution.Therefore, revolution is only just.