PRESIDENTIAL communications undersecretary, Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, is challenging the ‘Save Our Schools’ (SOS) network and the front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for the conduct of an official fact-finding mission (FFM) into the February 24, 2022 encounter in Davao de Oro that resulted to the death of five armed communist terrorists, including Chad Booc, a ‘volunteer-teacher’ from the SOS.
“In the spirit of transparency, openness and the dissemination of truthful information to our people, we call on the SOS to join hands with the government in sorting out the facts related to this incident.
“And should it be proven that the incident is not a result of a legitimate security operation by our troops but a ‘massacre’ as the SOS and other groups are now claiming, rest assured that the full-force of the law shall be meted against all those involved,” Badoy added.
Badoy lamented that another life of a “promising young man” was wasted because of the “deceptions and lies” of the CPP and its front organizations.
Booc was a state scholar at the University of the Philippines (UP-Diliman) with a degree in Computer Science.
As soon as it was confirmed that Booc was among those killed, the SOS, which is being supported by the family of 1-Pacman partylist representative and House Deputy Leader, Rep. Michael ‘Mikee’ Romero, issued a statement the next day, February 25, 2022, accusing the soldiers from the 1001st ‘Pag-Asa’ Brigade, 10th Infantry ‘Agila’ Division, of perpetrating a ‘massacre’ in Bgy. Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro, the site of the encounter.
Capt. Mark Anthony Tito, Agila Division chief of public affairs, said that aside from Booc, also killed were, Jojarain Alce Nguho II alias Rain, a certain alias Daday and two still unidentified males, during the firefight that lasted for some 15 minutes.
“It has been confirmed by locals in Bgy. Andap…that no encounter between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army transpired in the area.
“What the AFP claims as an ‘encounter’ is in fact a massacre of civilians,” SOS said.
The group aided Booc last year when he was arrested in Cebu province for the trafficking of indigenous peoples (IPs) from Talaingod, Davao del Norte, to the San Carlos University campus and rectory in Talamban, Cebu (see also Pinoy Exposé, Volume 2, Issue No. 7).
The legal and propaganda campaign waged by SOS and CPP front groups subsequently resulted to the release of Booc and 6 others who were charged with him.
Curiously, the indignation and accusation against the military raised by SOS reflects the statement released by the CPP this February 26, 2022, on the incident.
“The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemns in the strongest terms the massacre of Lumad community school teachers Chad Booc and Gelejurain Ngujo II and their three other companions. They were mercilessly killed in yet unclear circumstances by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), specifically those under the 10th Infantry Division.
“In truth, no such encounter took place in that place and time, based on reports of the NPA unit in the area. Where and how the victims were killed are still unknown,” said the CPP’s fictitious ‘information officer,’ Marco Villanueva.
In a press conference on the same day, 1001ST Brigade commander, B/Gen. Jesus Durante, along with Davao de Oro governor, Jayvee Tyron Uy and police provincial director, Col. Leo Luna, debunked the allegations of the CPP and SOS.
Durante noted that the clash last February 24 was triggered by information from local civilians about the delivery of ‘food aids’ to the CPP-NPA group in the area led by Eric ‘Jun’ Casilao, head of the Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee (SMRPC).
The entire Agila division has been on the lookout for the group of Casilao since last year.
Durante further noted that on that day alone, they have 3 brief encounters with Casilao’s group that resulted to the death of 5 terrorists. Two of the fatalities turned out to be Booc and Ngujo.
He also questioned Booc’s presence in New Bataan with the group of Casilao.
“Ano ang ginagawa niya sa New Bataan,” the official asked, adding their last information about Booc said he has remained in Cebu since he was freed.
Badoy said if SOS and those now claiming to be grieving for Booc are sincere in seeking justice for his death, they should not waste the opportunity to find out the truth about the incident and take up her challenge for an unbiased conduct of an FFM.
“Otherwise, they should better shut up and stop deceiving our people and the families of the victims thru their fake demonstration of sympathy and indignation,” she added.