CHR urges cooperation in probe of lumad teachers’ killing

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has urged concerned government agencies and other parties to cooperate in its investigation into the death of two lumad teachers and three others in Davao de Oro last month.

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia stressed the need to ”settle clashing claims from different camps.”

“CHR is looking into this case and we look forward to the cooperation of all parties, government and civil society alike, in pursuit of our mandate to conduct independent investigations,” she said.

Volunteer lumad teachers Chad Booc, a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Engineering (UP COE), and Gelejurain Ngujo II were among those killed in what the military claimed was an encounter with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

However, the National Democratic Front (NDF) said Booc and his companions were neither combatants nor part of any NPA unit operating in the area.

“The local NPA unit and masses in the area have confirmed that no armed encounter took place,” NDF Southern Mindanao spokesperson Rubi del Mundo said.

Del Mundo claimed that the five were accosted by the military at a checkpoint near the headquarters of the 66th Infantry Battalion in New Bataan the day before they were found dead.

On Thursday, the UP COE issued a statement describing Booc’s death as “highly suspicious.”

“Young idealists like Chad and many others who were red-tagged and whose lives were snuffed out at their prime in the name of counterinsurgency must be respected. Respect for human rights is paramount,” the statement read.

The college administration urged the National Bureau of Investigation and CHR to conduct a thorough probe.