Bar passer, 4 revolutionaries massacred by Bohol Police, 47th IB

by Jermaine Angelo Abcede

Hannah Cesista, a University of the Philippines Cebu (UP Cebu) graduate and a Bar passer, and four other members of the revolutionary New People’s Army namely Domingo Compoc, Perlito Historia, Marlon Omosura, and Alberto Sancho became the latest victims of the state forces’ witch hunt on revolutionaries following their brutal massacre at Sitio Matin-ao 2, Barangay Campagao, Bilar, Bohol, last Feb. 23.

Contrary to the claims of the state forces, the locals who witnessed the incident corroborate that the red fighters were not killed in action but instead were captured alive, tortured, and summarily killed.

According to the residents, the troops forced the five of them to vacate the house where they were staying and surrender to their custody, instructing them to gather their belongings and weapons. Subsequently, the four of them, except Compoc, were ordered to walk in a single line toward the rice field and roll in mud before they were executed.

An obtained photo of Compoc shows that he was held captive by a military officer, with his hands seemingly tied behind his back, supporting the claim that the revolutionaries were indeed captured alive.

Photos circulating online also reveal that Cesista’s one eye appeared to be severely injured while her other comrades suffered from lacerations, most likely due to stabbing.

Who was Hannah Cesista?

Cesista finished her political science degree as cum laude at UP Cebu. During her time at the university, she became part of Youth For Christ UP Cebu Chapter, Cebu Students for Justice and Peace, and Kabataan Partylist UP Cebu, which led her to integrate with the different sectors and communities and learn the aggravating conditions the toiling masses face.

She then proceeded to the University of San Carlos to pursue legal education. While being a law student, she served as a paralegal of human rights lawyers and volunteered to go to communities to provide human rights and paralegal discussions.

Cesista became one of the founding members of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) — Cebu Chapter and was elected secretary-general. She then took the Bar in 2022 and passed but chose not to take her oath as a lawyer.

Cesista’s experience in being a paralegal on different cases, especially in working with the cases of political prisoners, made her realize the limitations of the law made by the ruling class cannot fully serve the people.

A salute, tribute to the people’s martyrs

Different groups expressed their condemnation against the massacre that claimed the lives of Cesista and her four other comrades and cherished the lives they lived in serving the people.

In a statement, Kabataang Makabayan (KM)– South Central Negros vehemently denounced the merciless killing of the five red fighters collectively known as Bilar 5.

“KM — South Central Negros raises its fist to pay the highest tribute to the Bilar 5. Among the martyrs is Hannah Jay “Ka Maya” Cesista, a lawyer who eventually embraced armed struggle as a means of forwarding the national democratic revolution with a socialist perspective. Due to her comprehensive grasp of the objective conditions of the country and empathy toward the exploited masses, Ka Maya, as a revolutionary youth, took a resolute step of leaving her comfortable life to fully immerse with the masses,” KM — South Central Negros said.

Kabataan Party-list UP Cebu echoed the same sentiments of condemning the brutal and senseless killing and saluting the Bilar 5. Ultimately, they demanded for justice to be served.

“Kabataan PL UPC demands a swift and thorough and impartial investigation into these killings and calls for justice to be served for the Bilar 5 and all victims of extrajudicial killings. We will not be silenced, and we will continue to fight for a society where the rights and dignity of every Filipino are upheld and protected,” their statement reads.

In another statement, NUPL — Cebu Chapter expressed their sincere condolences to the bereaved families and loved ones of Bilar 5 and highlighted the fragility of the fascist state.

“Killing Hannah and her companions is one of the many state-sanctioned efforts to harm activists, human rights workers, and dissenters- as part of their futile attempt to conceal the harsh realities of poverty and inequality in this country,” NUPL — Cebu said.