“CHAD is our hero.”

This was how students of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Engineering describe slain Lumad volunteer teacher Chad Booc.

The university denounced Booc’s killing and demanded an unbiased investigation of the teacher’s death.

“We, the UP Diliman College of Engineering community, express our deepest sorrow and indignation on the death of our brilliant alumnus, Chad Errol R. Booc. That it happened in the hands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines makes it highly suspicious,” a statement from the college read.

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

The students called on the government to adhere to the rule of law and address the root cause of the problem.

“We believe in the rule of law and justice for all; even in war, there are laws to be followed. Instead of killing our youth, the government should be addressing the causes of their respective decisions to leave their comfortable lives to serve the underserved,” it added.

Booc graduated as cum laude from UP Diliman in 2017 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.