PROGRESSIVE groups continue to seek justice on the death of the "New Bataan 5 Massacre" who were allegedly killed by state forces in an encounter a year ago.
In a press release from Anakbayan-Southern Mindanao, the group commemorated the incident during the 37th anniversary of the People Power Revolution in a protest held Saturday, February 25 along Freedom Park in Davao City.
The incident happened on February 23, 2022. Among those who were killed are volunteers teachers Chad Booc and Jurain Ngujo, medical worker Elegyn Balonga, and drivers Tirso Añar and Robert Aragon
"We continuously call for justice! It's high time to once again mobilize and demand accountability from those in power," Anakbayan said in a statement.
The group also demanded justice "for the hundreds of activists and mass leaders abducted and killed because of expressing their dissents and dissatisfaction towards the people seated in the highest position of power."
According to the group, the victims were on their way back to Davao City after conducting field research at New Bataan, Davao de Oro when they were "massacred", contrary to the claims issued by the Armed Forces of the Philippines that there was an encounter between two parties.
They also claimed that based on an autopsy report conducted on Booc's body, contradicts the army's claims.
Various groups also condemned the incident and urged for an investigation.
Booc was among the “Bakwit School 7” who were arrested by the Central Visayas police on February 15, 2021 after allegedly kidnapping and bringing indigenous peoples (IP) children from Davao del Norte to Cebu City but were later on released and cleared of charges.
The groups denied that the five individuals were members of the communist group New People's Army (NPA).
However, in a press conference held February 24, 2022, former Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organization secretary-general Christony "Jong" Monzon confirmed that Booc and four others were NPA members, and were killed in an encounter with the military.
SunStar Davao has yet to get the side of the military on the matter, but they already denied in previous statements that the incident was a massacre. RGL