Volume IV, Number 8. 30 April 2022.
It was with great sadness that we heard the news of the passing of Amaryllis Hilao-Enriquez on 24 April. We join the Filipino people in mourning the passing of our beloved and most admired Marie, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, colleagues and friends.
Quoting the message from the Peace Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, “Marie will forever be remembered as the indefatigable, courageous and daring advocate of justice and peace. Having carried its torch for the Filipino people she served so selflessly, she faced the enemy firmly and determinedly to protect and defend their interest.
“After the Negotiating Panels of the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines signed the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Marie was asked to be an Independent Observer of the Joint Monitoring Committee of the NDFP. She gave valuable advice and input in the exercise of this task.
“She fought for the interests and well-being of political prisoners and other victims of human rights violations. She never ceased to bring justice to victims of human rights violations especially those from the toiling masses. She felt their pain, anger and desire for justice. After all, she and other members of her immediate family were themselves arrested, tortured and imprisoned during the Marcos dictatorship. Her sister Liliosa Hilao was one of the first tortured and killed during the Marcos dictatorship.
“She was indefatigable. She knew how important it was to inform the international community on the dire situation of human rights in the Philippines. So even when her health was deteriorating she still travelled to attend international forums, investigating committees and courts. Her voice became the voice of those in prison, of those in their graves.
“She believed that one must fight exploitation, oppression and injustice for a people to be genuinely free. For Marie, upholding human rights is not just an advocacy, it is a passion. Marie always said that the souls of those who suffered arrest, torture, disappearance and extra-judicially killing are crying out for justice. Thus, justice must be served.”
In the last five years, the Duterte regime has caused the murder of tens of thousands. Tens of thousands more are suffering from illegal arrest, torture, forced disappearance, political assassinations, forced evacuations, indiscriminate bombings, harassment, censorship and harassment. It seeks to aggravate further these sufferings by imposing the Marcos-Duterte tandem on the Philippine electorate in the 9 May elections. It aspires to wipe away the heinous crimes of the Marcos and Duterte fascist regimes against the Filipino people.
Let us honor Marie’s life by fighting ever more resolutely against exploitation, oppression and injustice. Until justice is served.