Who's Behind The Disappearance? Us?

QUEZON CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 01 May) – The Philippine military on Tuesday denied accusations that it was behind the disappearance of a political activist and son of a popular press freedom advocate.

Jonas Burgos, son of Jose Burgos, considered as one of the pillar of free press in the Philippines, has been reported missing by her mother, Edith, since April 28.

One witness told a television interview that he saw four men dragged Burgos out of a restaurant in Manila. “When I saw the man’s mother appealed on television about her missing son, I know that it was the same man that four people had taken away,” the witness said.

The woman appealed on televisions this week for anyone who saw her son.

Militant party list groups accused the Philippine military as behind the abduction of Burgos, who is a member of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, an organization of peasants in the country.

Burgos was said to be with a woman named Melissa Reyes and an unidentified man who were also reported missing.

Philippine military spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro denied the accusations.

"Even in the absence of evidence, they were quick again to blame the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It's unfair. What we can say is that this action of militant groups is filled with malice," Bacarro told the independent regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

He said the military is willing to cooperate with the police in the investigation of the disappearance of Burgos.

Militant groups have also accused the military as behind extra-judicial killings of more than 900 political activists in the Philippines. (Juley Reyes)