Iloilo gathering honors Panay martyrs, journalist

By Juliane Judilla

ILOILO CITY — Relatives, friends and advocacy groups gathered here Aug. 29 to commemorate more than 500 people whom organizers described as martyrs of Panay.

The Mothers and Relatives Against Tyranny and Oppression, or MARTYR, led the gathering.

Participants included relatives of people whom organizers identified as victims of alleged state-sponsored killings, extrajudicial killings, international humanitarian law violations and other attacks against activists and organizers.

Organizers said the commemoration also honored people who dedicated their lives to serving communities, pursued the revolutionary movement or died of natural causes from the martial law era to the present.

Themed “Keeping Them Alive Through Collective Struggle,” the gathering remembered those who died and expressed participants’ determination to continue their work.

The event also relaunched MARTYR’s Panay chapter.

The chapter committed to reconnecting with families whose relatives it recognizes as martyrs.

Panay Alliance Karapatan, a regional human rights group, said it has documented 577 people since the martial law era whose lives and contributions it considers part of Panay’s history and social struggles.

‘Justice for RJ Ledesma’

The gathering also honored journalist and activist RJ Nichole Ledesma ahead of National Press Freedom Day and what would have been his 31st birthday Aug. 30.

Republic Act 11699 designates Aug. 30 as National Press Freedom Day, a working holiday honoring Filipino journalist Marcelo H. del Pilar.

Members of the Altermidya Network and its Panay-based media organizations offered prayers and delivered speeches.

Participants also recited Ledesma’s poem, “Untitled Letter,” in remembrance of his work as a writer, journalist and activist.

Ledesma was among 19 people killed during a military operation in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental, on April 19, 2026.

The military described the operation as a series of encounters with suspected New People’s Army members.

Residents and human rights groups disputed the military’s account, alleging that civilians were among those killed.

The Commission on Human Rights opened an independent investigation into the incident, while UNESCO called for an investigation into the circumstances and motive behind Ledesma’s killing.

The commemoration also coincided with International Humanitarian Law Month.

International humanitarian law seeks to protect civilians and other people who are not, or are no longer, participating in armed conflict.

It also requires care for the sick and wounded, humane treatment of prisoners of war and respect for human dignity while regulating the conduct of hostilities.

Families, friends and colleagues said honoring those who died requires continuing their work and living by the values they embodied.