Lumad teacher slain in Davao de Oro clash

MANILA, Philippines — Five suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, one of them said to be behind the operation of schools for lumads, were killed in an encounter with government troopers in New Bataan, Davao de Oro late Thursday.

Three of the fatalities were identified as Jojarain Alce Nguho II, Chad Booc and a certain Daday.

The military said Booc was among those arrested on Feb. 15, 2021 at the San Carlos University in Cebu City for alleged trafficking of indigenous peoples from Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

Booc and six others were charged for violation of the Child Abuse Law, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and kidnapping and serious illegal detention. They were released following a court decision.

Capt. Mark Anthony Tito, public affairs office chief of the 10th Infantry Division, said Booc graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Computer Science degree, and was a known activist and NPA recruiter during his college days.

“He was also involved in Manilakbayan, a protest march involving indigenous peoples coming from Mindanao in 2015,” Tito said.

Nguho graduated from Liceo de Tagum and was a volunteer teacher at the Community Technical College of Southern Mindanao in Barangay Lapu-Lapu in Maco, Davao de Oro.

Tito said an M653 rifle, a caliber .45 pistol, a hand grenade, an anti-personnel mine, food supplies and personal belongings were recovered at the scene.

Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III, 1001st Infantry Brigade commander, said the neutralization of Booc proved that schools catering to lumads have become breeding grounds for communist rebels.

“We call on parents whose children are still with these institutions to take action. Rescue your children immediately before it’s too late. Seek help from the authorities so that we can rescue them,” Durante said.

Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, 10th Infantry Division commander, extended his condolences to the families of the slain NPA rebels.

“We have warned them multiple times to peacefully surrender to the government. They chose to resist to continue the bloodshed that resulted in their demise,” Mempin said.