THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines Association of Computer Science Majors denounced the death of Lumad teacher and alumnus Chad Booc.

The move came about after reports of Booc’s death in an armed encounter with the military in an operation in Davao de Oro on Thursday.

Captain Mark Anthony Tito of the 10th Infantry Division said a total of five individuals were killed during the encounter, with one of the bodies later identified as Booc.

The group denounced the killing of the Lumad teacher and called the military’s report on the issue as false.

It added the New People’s Army did not publicly acknowledge the teacher’s death as one of its own.

“…we honor the selfless life of Chad Booc, and remember his heart to fight for the underserved. In light of today’s loss, we condemn the unjust and inhumane killings of (Booc), the Lumad volunteer teachers, and all those who sought to defend the marginalized and silenced,” said the group.

Booc graduated cum laude in Computer Science at UP Diliman in 2016.

His case became viral on social media after he was detained on charges that he trained child warriors of the New People’s Army at the University of San Carlos Talamban campus in Cebu.

He was released after three months when the court dismissed the charges.