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Groups Condemn Killing of Lumad School Teacher Chad Booc, Demand Justice
-Reaction Paper-

This is an issue of seeking and demanding justice of a Lucad teacher, Chad

Booc who has been killed. However, as a defense of the AFP, that the later was killed
during a legitimate military operation wherein he found to be as an NPA activist.
Particularly, he was with Regional Headquarters, Southern Mindanao Regional
Committee (RHQ, SMRC) led by Eric Jun Casilao alias Wally/Ellan, and the Regional
Operations Command, SMRC (ROC, SMRC) led by Leo Lacumbo alias Ole when the
troops of 1001st Brigade's 25th Infantry Battalion engaged them in a series of
encounters that resulted to his death.

Chad Booc was a graduate of UP, and know as well as he graduated Cum
Laude. It is also in fact, that the University of the Philippines was seen as a breeding
ground for CPP/NPA activists. Students are very active when it comes to their
organization, that tends most of the time to challenge the government's efforts. Several
reports also linked that some of the captured or killed activists of NPA were connected
to UP. This is also a product of being much overwhelmed with our freedom of
expression and forming organizations. This strategy of the CPP/NPP of using schools
as a place for recruitment, and widening connections has become a practice since then
by communist groups.

Now, there is a contradicting statement by both parties, the AFP and the CPP.
According to the CPP, it is not the first time that the AFP has resorted to such type of
disinformation in order to conceal the cold-blooded murder of civilians and unarmed
people. They insisted that there was injustice that took place in the death of Lucad
teacher which was supported by these different organizations, including UP where Booc
was a member. However, the AFP stands on its commitment, that no murder happened
and it was a result of an encounter. “This would not have happened if they took heed
with our offer to abandon the armed struggle”, as what the AFP EastMinCom said.
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This always becomes an issue when somebody is killed especially a member of

UP or any other school, the military was seen to be a murderer and rallies took place
seeking injustice. However, they ignore the fact of what was the cause of their death;
AFP are defenders of the people, and they have the mandate to obey and protect the
land and people of this country and in the exercise of such duties, lives may sometimes
be sacrifice for the benefit of the majority. Efforts are continuous on the part of the
government to stop communist terrorism and encourage those who are on the other
side to go down, stop the armed struggle and return to the government as productive
citizens of the community. In fact, no lives will be sacrificed during military operations if
they will just surrender and refrain from their armed struggles and terrorist activities.

As a ‘Scholar for the Nation’, being a pnpa cadet and them, as a ‘Scholar of the
Nation’ as a student of the University of the Philippines, I felt sad to know that some of
the scholars where used to be advocates for a different purpose, especially by the
CPP/NPA. Yes, we have the freedom of expression, but the fact that we are scholars of
the government and the people, at least we must have our loyalty and support for it. We
must use our talents, skills, and wisdom for the good and not be blinded by the
propaganda and ideologies of these communist groups.

I was also sad that lives were sacrificed, because of the wrong beliefs and
unlawful way of bringing change in our government and the country. On the part of the
AFP, they must be vigilant in doing their mandate, and always prioritize the observance
of human rights in any military operations. In general, to maintain balance in our society
it is essential to express our rights and seek justice for those who suffer injustice, but let
us not forget that what our country needs is for its people to unite for a common goal-
peace in our land and growth.