The Philippine Army (PA) clarified on Saturday, February 24, the academic affiliation of a lawyer who died in an encounter between state security forces and the New People's Army (NPA) in Bilar, Bohol.
Hannah Jay Cesista alias "Maya / Lean", 26, took up law at the University of San Carlos, according to Col. Louie Dema-ala, Army spokesperson.
This was also confirmed by Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, chief of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) public affairs office.
The Visayas Command (VisCom) earlier announced that Cesista finished her law school at the University of Cebu (UC) - Banilad Campus.
But Ms. Ria Lidia Espina, dean of the University of Cebu School of Law, said that Cesista was not a graduate of UC School of Law.
"On behalf of the University of Cebu School of Law, we would like to extend our condolences to the family and send prayers for the eternal repose of her soul, though she was not a UC Law graduate," Espina said.
According to Javines, Cesista finished Bachelor of Science in Political Science at the University of the Philippines - Cebu Campus in 2017 before going to the University of San Carlos.
"It is most unfortunate and heart-breaking for her parents and family since she only passed the Bar Examinations in November 2022," Javines added.
The 3ID said that Cesista was a member of the Anakbayan-Cebu and a representative of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL)-Cebu before she supposedly joined the NPA's Bohol Party Committee (BPC) in 2020.
Cesista was among the five alleged NPA fighters killed during a joint military and police operation in Brgy. Campagao in Bilar town on Friday, February 23.
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