Jo Lapira, aspiring change maker

Josephine Anne Santiago Lapira, 22, a 4th year BS Biochemistry student from University of the Philippines (UP) Manila was one of 15 fatalities in the encounter between government forces and the communist New People’s Army in Nasugbu, Batangas on Tuesday night, adding to the death toll of student activists in the country.

Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Parayno, commander of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said Lapira, from Marikina City was one of five female fatalities killed in the clash. He added that Lapira died while being treated at Jabez Hospital in Nasugbu at around 2:30 a.m. after the encounter with the military troops.