Kalinaw News: Personality Charged for Human Trafficking of IPs in Cebu Killed in Clash

Posted to Kalinaw News (Feb 25, 2022): Personality Charged for Human Trafficking of IPs in Cebu Killed in Clash



MAWAB, DAVAO DE ORO – An armed engagement between the troops of 1001st Infantry Brigade against Communist Terrorist 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 transpired at Purok-8, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro, early morning of February 24, 2022.

In a series of armed encounters, five (5) members of the CTG were killed in the clash, while it is believed that there are still several others wounded based on the bloodstains in the encounter site. The fatalities were identified as Jojarain Alce Nguho II alias Rain, Chad Booc alias Chad, a certain alias Daday and two (2) still unidentified males. The CTG scampered and withdrew southwards after a 15-minute firefight leaving one (1) M653 rifle, one (1) caliber 45 pistol, one (1) hand grenade, one (1) anti-personnel mine, assorted food supplies, and personal belongings.

It can be recalled that on February 15, 2021, Chad Booc is one of the personalities arrested in a Bakwit school located in San Carlos University – Talamban Campus in Cebu City for alleged trafficking of Indigenous People from Talaingod, Davao del Norte. Booc was later released together with six (6) others following the decision of the court in Cebu.

Booc graduated Cum Laude from UP Diliman with a degree of Bachelor of Computer Science. He was a known activist and recruiter to the CTG even in his UP days. He was also involved in Manilakbayan, a protest march organized by the CTG involving Indigenous Peoples coming mainly from Mindanao in 2015. After his college days, he volunteered as a Mathematics teacher in the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Development (ALCADEV) in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, and later on volunteered for the Bakwit School in Cebu. These CPP-NPA affiliated schools including Salugpungan Schools in Davao Region were all closed down by the government.

“The neutralization of Chad Booc, proved that the so-called Lumad Schools like ALCADEV, MISFI, Salugpungan, CTCSM, and others are indeed breeding grounds of the CTG. It is in these institutions where innocent IP children are being radicalized and influenced to take arms against the government,” Brigadier General Jesus P Durante III, Commander 1001st Brigade said.

“We call on to the 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 eventually rescue them,” Durante added.

Meanwhile, Jojarain Alce Nguho II, one of the fatalities was also a CTG scholar who graduated from Liceo de Tagum and also a volunteer teacher in Community Technical College of Southern Mindanao (CTCSM) in Barangay Lapu-lapu, Maco, Davao de Oro.

These recent armed encounters of the 1001st Brigade against the CTG were an offshoot of the relentless focused military operations launched since October last year to track and finish the CTG and eventually free the communities from their terroristic activities. This year alone, 1001st Brigade already figured in six (6) skirmishes against the CTG which led to the neutralization of top NPA personalities to include Menandro Villanueva, Secretary of NPA’s Komisyong Mindanao (KOMMID), and the recovery of war materiel.

10th Infantry “Agila” Division Commander MGen Nolasco Mempin extends his sincerest condolences to the families of the slain Communist NPA Terrorists as this would not happen if they opted to lay down their arms and abandon the armed struggle.

“We have warned them multiple times to peacefully surrender to the government, however, they chose to resist to continue the bloodshed that resulted to their demise. Together with their former comrades, we again urge the remaining members of the CTG to return to the folds of the law.” MGen Mempin added.

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