DAVAO CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) says five people killed by the military in an “encounter” in Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro in the morning of Thursday, February 24, were members of the Communists Terrorists Group (CTG).
But the UP Association of Computer Science Majors (UP CURSOR) protested, however, and asserted that they were human rights activists.
The Philippine Army, in a statement, identified those killed as Geliejurain Ngojo alias Rain, Chad Booc alias Chad, a certain alias Daday, and two unidentified persons. “An armed engagement between the troops of 1001st Infantry Brigade against Communists Terrorists Group’s (CTGs) Regional Headquarters, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (RHQ, SMRC) believed to be led by Eric Jun Casilao alias Wally/Ellan and Regional Operations Command, SMRC (ROC, SMRC) led by Leo Lacumbo alias Ole,” said the military as posted on the Kalinaw News, the website of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment of the Philippine Army.
Brigadier General Jesus Durante III, Commander 1001st Brigade said “the neutralization of Chad Booc, proved that the so called Lumad Schools like ALCADEV (Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc.), MISFI (Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc.), Salugpungan (Salugpungan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center), CTCSM (Community Technical College of Southeastern Mindanao, Inc.) and others are indeed breeding grounds of the CTGs. It is in these institutions where innocent IP children are being radicalized and influenced to take arms against the Government.”
The members of the UP CURSOR, however, said “we honor the selfless life of Chad Booc, and remember his heart to fight for the underserved.” “In light of today’s loss, we condemn the unjust and inhumane killings of Chad Booc, the Lumad volunteer teachers, and all those who sought to defend the marginalized and silenced. We urge media outlets to remain objective in their news reports as they should first and foremost be the ones to stop the spread of misinformation,” the UP CURSOR said. T
he UP CURSOR said “Chad was a BS Computer Science student of UP Diliman. After graduating as cum laude, he chose a path less traveled instead of pursuing a conventional career in the IT industry.
He boldly and selflessly went out to serve the indigenous communities as a volunteer mathematics and science teacher for ALCADEV, a Lumad school in Surigao del Sur. Since then, he had devoted his life to serving the people in whatever way he could.” “Chad was not only a staunch defender of the rights of the Lumad people.
He wholeheartedly immersed himself in marginalized communities to learn from them and serve them to the best of his abilities. His death is a huge loss not only to his family and friends, but to the communities he lived with and the individuals he inspired as well,” the UP CURSOR also said. Durante called upon the parents whose children are still with the institutions he referred to as CTGs to take action by rescuing their children immediately before it is too late.”
