Hannah C was a 26-year-old law school graduate, who had recently passed her bar exams. She was also believed to be a member of the New People’s Army, an armed group associated with the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Before taking up law at the University of San Carlos, Hannah studied political science at the University of the Philippines Cebu. She was known as a passionate youth activist, who wanted to practice law to support marginalised people. She had been active with various organisations during her student years, including Kabataan Partylist, Youth for Christ and Cebu Students for Justice and Peace. She worked as a paralegal during her studies.
The National Union of People’s Lawyers, of which she was a member, credited Hannah with helping to form the student branch of the organisation. In a statement, the Union said:
‘She was always the first person to volunteer when lawyers needed assistance in the countless legal work of the organization. She joined community visits for paralegal trainings and discussions on human rights despite the demands of law school.’
On 23 February Hannah’s body was found in fields outside Barangay village, Bohol, following a clash between the Bohol Police Provincial Office and 47th Infantry Battalion with the Bohol Party Committee of the New People’s Army. Six people, including Hannah, were killed in the incident – five alleged members of the New People’s Army and one police corporal.
The joint police and military operation was intended to arrest Domingo Jaspe Compoc, alias ‘Silong.’ Compoc had a PHP 2.6 million bounty on his head (GBP 35,000) and arrest warrants for crimes including murder and ‘rebellion’.
Reports of the incident vary. Some state that the deaths occurred during a firefight between state security forces and the five NPA members which started just before 7am and lasted until 9:35. Other accounts state that the five NPA members were captured alive and tortured before being summarily shot.
Hannah is survived by her father and older sister.
Dalawapu’t anim na taong gulang si Hannah C, nagtapos ng abogasya, at kapapasa lang ng bar exams. Pinaniniwalaan ring kasapi siya ng New People’s Army, ang armadong sangay ng Communist Party of the Philippines.
Bago nakapagtapos ng abogasya sa University of San Carlos, nag-aral muna si Hannah ng political science sa University of the Philippines Cebu. Kilala siya bilang isang marubdob na batang aktibista na gustong maging abogado upang matulungan ang mga taong nasa laylayan. Habang nag-aaral, masigasig siyang kasapi sa iba’t ibang organisasyon, tulad ng Kabataan Partylist, Youth for Christ, at Cebu Students for Justice and Peace. Nagtrabaho rin siyang paralegal habang nag-aaral.
Ang National Union of People’s Lawyers, na kinabibilangan ni Hannah, kinilala ang naging papel niya sa pagbuo ng sangay pang-mag-aaral ng kanilang organisasyon. Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ng unyon:
‘Siya lagi ang unang nagkukusa kapag kailangan ng tulong ng mga abogado sa hindi mabilang na mga gawain ng organisasyon. Sumasama siya sa mga pagdalaw sa mga komunidad para sa mga pagsasanay na paralegal at sa mga talakayan tungkol sa karapatang pantao kahit na mabigat itong isabay sa pag-aaral ng abogasya.’
Noong Pebrero 23 natagpuan ang bangkay ni Hannah sa kabukiran malapit sa Barangay Campagao, Bilar, Bohol matapos ang isang engkwentro sa pagitan ng Bohol Police Provincial Office at ng 47th Infantry Battalion laban sa Bohol Party Committee ng New People’s Army. Anim katao ang namatay sa insidente—limang mga miyembro diumano ng New People’s Army at isang korporal ng pulis.
Layunin ng pinagsanib na pwersa ng mga pulis at militar ang pag-aresto kay Domingo Jaspe Compoc, alyas 'Silong.' May PHP 2.6 milyong (GBP 35,000) patong sa ulo si Compoc at mga arrest warrant para sa krimen ng murder at ‘rebelyon.’
May magkakaibang bersyon ang ulat. May nagsasabing naganap ang patayan nang magsagupa ang mga ahente ng estado at ang limang miyembro ng NPA bago mag-alas-siyete ng umaga na tumagal hanggang alas nuwebe trenta y singko. Sa ibang ulat sinasabing una nang nahuli ng buhay ang limang miyembro ng NPA at tinortyur bago pinagbabaril.
Naulila ni Hannah ang kanyang ama at nakatatandang babaeng kapatid.
