Reds vow justice for abducted Filipino activist

Photos of victims of extra-judicial killings and abducted political activists during an interfaith rally in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 28, 2009) – Communist rebels vowed to exact justice against government soldiers tagged as behind the abduction of a peasant activist Jonas Burgos in the Philippines.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) also condemned Filipino leader Gloria Arroyo for promoting three military officials allegedly involved in the disappearance of Burgos in April 2007.

“Arroyo's promotion of lieutenant colonels Noel Clement, Melquiades Feliciano and Edison Caga to full colonel only shows how she rewards fascist scoundrels who carry out with impunity her policy of state terrorism. She has demonstrated her complete disdain of human rights.”

“The promotion of these three military officers is in outright contempt of the aggrieved family, friends and advocates to the cause of Jonas Burgos,” the CPP said in a statement.

It said the three officials belong to the Philippine Army's 56th Infantry Battalion based in Bulacan’s Norzagaray town.

“They have been directly named as respondents in the habeas corpus case filed by the Burgos family. The pieces of evidence against the three include the license plate TAB 194 of a jeep impounded at their headquarters in Norzagaray. The license plate was seen attached to the van used in the abduction of Burgos,” the CPP said.

“The revolutionary forces will not tire in their efforts to achieve justice. Sooner or later, these fascists will pay for their crimes,” the CPP said.

The NPA is fighting the past four decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Wala Sa Amin Si Jonas Burgos! Sigaw Ng Militar

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 25 Jul) – Itinanggi kanina ng militar na nasa kustodiya nito ang dinukot na aktibastang si Jonas Burgos matapos na ipagutos ng Korte Suprema sa Armed Forces na ilabas ang nawawalang magsasaka.

IKinatwiran naman ni Philippine Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres, Jr, na wala sa militar si Burgos na dinukot nuong Abril sa loob ng isang restaurant sa Caloocan.

Natunton ang sasakyan na ginamit sa pagdukot sa Philippine Army sa Bulacan province.

Naglabas ng isang writ of habeas corpus ang Korte Suprema at iniutos sa militar isuko si Burgos sa Biyernes.

"If on that day, we cannot produce Jonas, if he was with the military, there's no reason not to bring him out," ani Torres.

Kinatigan ng Korte Suprema ang habeas corpus petition ni Mrs. Edita Burgos, ang ina ni Jonas, upang atasan ang Pangulong Gloria Arroyo na ipalutang kina Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. at Army Chief Lieutenant General Romeo Tolentino, at sa iba pang military commanders ang nawawalang aktibista.

Una nang tinukoy ng pamilya Burgos ang 56th Infantry Battalion sa Bulacan na may kagagawan umano ng pagdukot. Inakusahan rin ni Mrs. Burgos si Esperon na pinagtatakpan ang mga tauhan nito nang mabigong ibahagi sa kanila ang sipi ng resulta ng imbestigasyon ng militar sa naturang insidente.

Ayon kay Torres, kung tutuusin ay kumilos na rin ang tropa ng Army sa buong bansa upang hanapin si Jonas.

"We have been consistent with our efforts to try to locate Burgos. From the start, we have been supporting proper investigating agencies, which is the Philippine National Police," dagdag pa ni Torres.

Magugunitang inangguluhan rin ng Philippine Army na ang rebeldeng New People's Army ang posibleng may kagagawan ng pagkawala ni Burgos na umano’y miyembro ng gerilyang grupo.

Naunang isinabit ni Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, hepe ng Presidential Task Force Against Media Harassment, ang anim na sundalo na umano'y may kinalaman sa pagkawala ni Burgos at ipinag-utos sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) na i-summon ang lahat ng suspek upang maimbestigahan.

Lima sa mga sundalo ay nakilalang sina Army Lt. Col. Noel Clement, former commander ng 56th Infantry Battalion; Army Lt. Jaime Mendaro, ng 56th Infantry Battalion; Army Sgt. Jason Roxas at Air Force Cpl. Maria Joana Francisco; Army Sgt. Aron Arroyo at isang alias TL o Team Leader -- lahat ay assign sa Military Intelligence Group-15.

Ngunit matapos na pangalanan ito ni Velasco ay agad naman siyang sinibak ni Justice Secy. Raul Gonzales. Itinanggi rin ng mga sundalo na may kinalaman sila sa pagdukot kay Burgos. (Juley Reyes at Juan Magtanggol)

Abducted Filipino Activist Now Tagged As Maoist Rebel

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 18 Jul) – After Manila sacked a state prosecutor for linking six soldiers in the disappearance of a political activist, the chief of the army on Thursday tagged the missing man as a communist insurgent.

"It appears he is a leftist. He is a member of the underground NPA," said Lt. Romeo Tolentino, referring to Jonas Burgos, who was abducted in April at a restaurant in Manila.

Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, of the Presidential Task Force Against Media Harassment, has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to summon the soldiers to shed light on the case.

Five of the six soldiers ordered investigated were identified as Army Lt. Col. Noel Clement, former commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion; Army Lt. Jaime Mendaro, of the 56th Infantry Battalion; Army Sgt. Jason Roxas and Air Force Cpl. Maria Joana Francisco; Army Sgt. Aron Arroyo and another soldier whose initials are TL, all allegedly assigned with the Military Intelligence Group-15.

Intelligence chief Maj. General Delfin Bangit said no soldiers from his group were involved in the abduction of the activist.

Velasco was removed from the case after he implicated the soldiers in the abduction of Burgos.
The army chief said Burgos belongs to the New People’s Army operating in Bulacan province. Tolentino previously denied the involvement of soldiers in the Burgos case.

An informant, also a soldier, has provided Velasco the names of the five soldiers linked to the abduction of Burgos.

Burgos’ family denied the allegations of the military. The activist’s mother, Edith Burgos, said the military was behind the abduction her son.

“My son Jonas, according to witnesses, was forcibly taken by a group of six males and one female while he was having lunch at the Hapag Kainan Restaurant in Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, on April 28, 2007 at about 1.30 p.m. As he was being forcibly taken, he was shouting “Aktibista lang po ako! (I am only an activist).”

“I realized that Jonas could be missing when he did not come home that night of April 28th,” the woman said.

Burgos is a member of a peasant organization in Bulacan province called the Alyansang Magbubukid ng Bulacan (Farmers’ Alliance in Bulacan).

His family said one witness in the abduction saw Burgos forced into a vehicle with license plate number TAB 194, which was later traced to a vehicle impounded by the 56th Infantry Battalion in Bulacan province.

The army said the license plate was stolen from the vehicle inside their base. The vehicle, owned by Mudlong Mauro, was seized by army soldiers for transporting illegal lumber in June 2006.Tolentino last week linked communist insurgents in the disappearance of Burgos. (Juley Reyes and Juan Magtanggol)

Philippine Military Intelligence Denies Hand In Abduction Of Political Activist

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 10 Jul) – The Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) has denied Tuesday any role in the abduction of a political activist, even as a government task force ordered the investigation of six soldiers implicated in the case.

The soldiers were suspected as behind the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, who was seized in April at a restaurant in Quezon City. His family accused the military as behind the abduction.

Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, of the Presidential Task Force Against Media Harassment, ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to summon the soldiers to shed light on the case.

ISAFP chief Brigadier General Delfin Bangit said no soldiers from his group were involved in the abduction of the activist.

Five of the six soldiers ordered investigated were identified as Army Lt. Col. Noel Clement, former commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion; Army Lt. Jaime Mendaro, of the 56th Infantry Battalion; Army Sgt. Jason Roxas and Air Force Cpl. Maria Joana Francisco; Army Sgt. Aron Arroyo and another soldier whose initials are TL, all allegedly assigned with the ISAFP’s Military Intelligence Group-15.

An informant, also a soldier, has provided Velasco the names of the five suspects.

“My son Jonas, according to witnesses, was forcibly taken by a group of six males and one female while he was having lunch at the Hapag Kainan Restaurant in Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, on April 28, 2007 at about 1.30 p.m. As he was being forcibly taken, he was shouting “Aktibista lang po ako! (I am only an activist).”

“I realized that Jonas could be missing when he did not come home that night of April 28th,” the activist’s mother, Edith Burgos, said.

Of all the accused, only Clement has denied involvement in the Burgos abduction. ”I will clear my name. I have nothing to hide,” Clement told reporters in Manila.

“I don't know why I am dragged into this. If this were a book, I was in chapter one. I impounded the vehicle but it doesn't mean that I will always be responsible for it,” Clement said.
Bangit said he is willing to meet with the mother of Burgos and face any investigations.

“I can still look into her eyes and say the ISAFP has nothing to do with the disappearance of Burgos,” Bangit said. “I can say with conviction and with all honesty that ISAFP is not in any way connected in this disappearance.”

Burgos’ mother said she will face Bangit in the proper forum. “I will meet him in the proper forum and at the proper time,” she said.

Burgos is a member of a peasant organization in Bulacan province called the Alyansang Magbubukid ng Bulacan (Farmers’ Alliance in Bulacan).

His family said one witness in the abduction saw Burgos forced into a vehicle with license plate number TAB 194, which was later traced to a vehicle impounded by the 56th Infantry Battalion in Bulacan province.

Army officials said the license plate was stolen from the vehicle inside their base. The vehicle, owned by Mudlong Mauro, was seized by army soldiers for transporting illegal lumber in June 2006.

Clement said he was relieved by Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano as commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion and had nothing to do with the missing license plate. “When I was relieved, I turned over everything inside the camp (to my successor),” he said.

Clement’s unit was pulled out of Bulacan in January this year and replaced by the Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion headed by Lt. Col. Edison Caga.

Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, the Philippine Army chief, last week linked communist insurgents in the disappearance of Burgos. (Juley Reyes)

6 Soldiers Implicated In Disappearance of Activist In Philippines

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 09 Jul) – Six government soldiers suspected as behind the disappearance of a political activists in the Philippines were ordered investigated on Monday.

Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, of the Presidential Task Force Against Media Harassment, ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to summon the soldiers to shed light on the disappearance of Jonas Burgos.

Burgos was seized in April this year at a restaurant in Quezon City. His family accused the military as behind the abduction.

“My son Jonas, according to witnesses, was forcibly taken by a group of six males and one female while he was having lunch at the Hapag Kainan Restaurant in Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, on April 28, 2007 at about 1.30 p.m. As he was being forcibly taken, he was shouting “Aktibista lang po ako! (I am only an activist).”

“I realized that Jonas could be missing when he did not come home that night of April 28th,” his mother, Edith Burgos, said.

She said one witness saw the young Burgos forced into a vehicle with license plate number TAB 194, which was later traced to a vehicle impounded by the Army’s 56th Infantry Battalion in Bulacan province.

Army officials said the license plate was stolen from the vehicle inside their base.

Burgos is a member of a peasant organization in Bulacan province called the Alyansang Magbubukid ng Bulacan (Farmers’ Alliance in Bulacan).

Five of the six soldiers ordered investigated were identified as Army Lt. Col. Noel Clement, then commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion; Army Lt. Jaime Mendaro, of the 56th Infantry Battalion; Army Sgt. Jason Roxas and Air Force Cpl. Maria Joana Francisco; Army Sgt. Aron Arroyo and another soldier whose initials are TL, all allegedly assigned with the Military Intelligence Group-15 of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. An informant, also a soldier, has provided Velasco the names of the five suspects.

One the six, Clement, has strongly denied involvement in the disappearance of the activist and said he is ready to face the investigation. ”I will clear my name. I have nothing to hide,” Clement told reporters in Manila.

“I don't know why I am dragged into this. If this were a book, I was in chapter one. I impounded the vehicle but it doesn't mean that I will always be responsible for it,” Clement said.

The vehicle, owned by Mudlong Mauro, was seized by army soldiers for transporting illegal lumber in June 2006.

Clement said he was relieved by Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano as commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion and had nothing to do with the missing license plate. “When I was relieved, I turned over everything inside the camp (to my successor),” he said.

Clement’s unit was pulled out of Bulacan in January this year and replaced by the Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion headed by Lt. Col. Edison Caga.

Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, the Philippine Army chief, last week linked communist insurgents in the disappearance of Burgos. (Juley Reyes)

Jonas Burgos Report, No Way!

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 05 Jul) – Tuluyan nang isinara ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang pagkakataon para sa pamilya ng dinukot na aktibistang si Jonas Burgos na makakuha ng sipi ng resulta ng imbestigasyon nito hinggil sa naturang insidente.

Ito'y makaraang ihayag ngayon ni AFP Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. na batay sa rekomendasyon ng isinagawang pag-aaral ng Judge Advocate General's Office (JAGO), hindi maaaring isapubliko o ipamahagi ang ulat ng imbestigasyon ng Provost Marshal.

Ang Provost Marshal ang nag-ungkat ng sinasabing pagkawala ng plaka ng sasakyang naka-impound sa kampo ng 56th Infantry Battalion at namataang ginamit sa get-away vehicle nang dukutin si Burgos.

"There's no need, they have studied it and the advised to me, I'm taking that, there's no need to release it," ani Esperon.

Humihingi ng kopya ang ina ni Jonas na si Editha sa pagbusisi ng AFP sa naturang usapin ngunit una na ring tinanggihan ng militar sa katwirang konpidensyal na dokumento ito kung kayat nag-akusa na pinagtatakpan ni Esperon ang kanyang mga tauhan.

Naninindigan muli si Esperon na wala rin namang mapapala ang pamilya Burgos sa Provost Marshal report dahil natutuon lamang ito sa nawawalang plaka at hindi sa paghahanap ng responsable sa pagdukot kay Jonas.

"As of now that should remain as an internal document to us… It hasserved its purpose as far as we are concerned in the armed forces," ayon pa kay Esperon. "We will come up with the whole picture as soon as we get more details," dagdag ni Esperon.

Kasabay nito, sinabi ng heneral na masyadong maaga upang idiin ang komunistang grupo sa pagkawala ni Burgos na una na ring pinalulutang ni Army Chief Lieutenant General Romeo Tolentino. (Juley Reyes)

Philippine Army Now Says Rebels Could Be Behind Abduction Of Activist

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 03 Jul) – After denying involvement in the abduction of a Filipino political activist Jonas Burgos, now the chief of the Philippine Army is implicating communist insurgents in the disappearance of the young son of a press freedom fighter.

Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino said they suspect the New People’s Army rebels as behind the abduction of Burgos. He was seized by five men and woman while eating at a restaurant in Ever Gotesco Mall in Quezon City on April 28, 2007.

Edith Burgos, the man’s mother, accused the army as behind the abduction.

“If she is convinced, then she should file a criminal case, but we are making an investigation into this allegation,” Tolentino said. (Juley Reyes)

An Open Letter From Edith Burgos...

I am the mother of Jonas Joseph Burgos. Jonas is a farmer; he manages our farm in Bulacan. He is a member of a peasant organization in Bulacan, Alyansang Magbubukid ng Bulacan.
Jonas has been a desapercido since two months ago.

My son Jonas, according to witnesses, was forcibly taken by a group of 6 males and 1 female while he was having lunch at the Hapag Kainan Restaurant in Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, on April 28, 2007 at about 1.30 p.m. As he was being forcibly taken, he was shouting “Aktibista lang po ako!”

I realized that Jonas could be missing when he did not come home that night of April 28th.

The following morning, I received a text message from Jonas which states: “Pasensiya na ligo lang ako”; this was followed by another text: “Sige bukas pag-usapan natin”. I tried calling his phone but could not get an answer until it could no longer be reached.

On April 30th, I called for a press conference and announced that Jonas has been missing since April 28th.

As a result of that press conference, I received information that a security guard at the Ever Gotesco Mall saw Jonas forced by persons who identified themselves to be “PULIS” into a vehicle with plate number TAB 194.

That plate number TAB 194 was traced to a vehicle registered in the name of Mauro Mudlong. Mr Mudlong and his vehicle were apprehended on June 24, 2006 by PFC Jose Villena and CPL Castro Bugalon of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (56th IB) based in Barangay San Mateo, Norzagaray Bulacan for violation of Section 68 of PD 705 or “Transporting of Timber Without a Permit” (filed with the Prosecutor of Bulacan at Malolos; IS No. 06-09-4287). Said vehicle with plate no. TAB 194 and its cargo were taken to the headquarters of the 56th IB at Norzagaray Bulacan.

Lt. Col. Noel S. Clement was the commanding officer of the 56th IB at the time the vehicle with plate no. TAB 194 was apprehended and taken to the 56th IB headquarters.

Police investigators reported that they took the statements of 5 Army officers: Lt. Col. Noel S. Clement, at present the commanding officer of the Security and Escort Battalion based in Fort Bonifacio; Lt. Col. Melquiades L. Feliciano, commanding officer 56th IB who succeeded Lt. Col. Clement in January but reportedly relieved in May (his present assignment is unknown); Lt. Col. Edison Caga, commanding officer 69th IB stationed in Pampanga who was assigned to secure the 56th IB headquarters when it went for training in November 2006; CPL Castro Bugalon and PFC Jose Villena III both assigned at the 56th IB.

Media reported that Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. has ordered the Army Provost Marshal and the Inspector General to investigate the involvement of the above named 5 army officers in the forced disappearance of Jonas.

On May 21, 2007, my lawyer wrote to Gen. Esperon to request for a copy of the “report of the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General on the involvement of the 56th Infantry Battalion on [Jonas’] disappearance”. When Gen. Esperon was not responding after a week, we sent him another letter on May 29, 2007.

I met with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on May 29th to seek his help in finding Jonas or any information he can provide about what has happened to him. Secretary Ermita responded by arranging that I meet with General Esperon on June 6, 2007 at 10 a.m. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called me up on June 2nd to express her concern about Jonas and reminded me that I go see Gen. Esperon.

My lawyer together with my brother, Jimmy Tronqued (I had vertigo attack and could not leave the house) went to Gen. Esperon’s office at the appointed time, June 6, 2007 at 10 a.m.

However, they were met by 2 officers, LTC. Jose and LTC Lucero, and not by Gen. Esperon, who, according to the 2 officers, had left for another meeting. My lawyer asked the 2 officers about our request for a copy of the report of the Provost Marshal but the 2 officers had no idea about such request.

On June 21st, my lawyer received a letter from the Judge Advocate General, Brig. Gen. Nemesio I. Dabal, writing for Gen. Esperon.

The letter said that we could not be given copies of the report of the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General because of two restraints: a) it is “a classified matter, the unauthorized disclosure of which, while not endangering national security, may cause unwarranted injury to an individual.

Under pertinent rules, this category of classified matter expressly includes investigation and document of a personal and disciplinary nature which we are bound to secure for administrative purposes and further to safeguard the identity of personnel being investigated for an anomaly prior to the filing of appropriate charges”; b) the “restraint is a necessary measure in order not to preempt the final outcome of the case being investigated through the premature disclosure of an initial investigation result which is taking its course under the military justice system.

This is with a view to further elevation of the matter to an appropriate body for proper disposition, including its possible referral with a view to trial by court martial against erring personnel involved, if circumstances warrant”.

In other words, Gen. Esperon turned down my request because he was concerned that my reading of the report of the Provost Marshal and Inspector General “may” cause some unwarranted injury to someone (whom he has not named) and because he does not want that the “initial investigation result” to preempt or be presumed to be the final outcome of the case being investigated.

Based on the evidence so far gathered: a) the testimony of the witness security guard that he saw Jonas forced into the vehicle with plate no. TAB 194; b) plate no. TAB 194 has been traced to be in the custody of the 56th IB since June 2006, I accuse the Army of having forcibly abducted my son Jonas on April 28, 2007 at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Quezon City.

I strongly suspect that either or both of its former commanding officers, Lt. Col. Clement and Lt. Col. Feliciano participated in the enforced disappearance of Jonas.

The conduct of Gen. Esperon tells me that the Army is hiding from me information of vital investigative value in the Jonas case. First, he refused to see me and my representatives despite the fact that Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita had arranged the meeting and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo encouraged me to see him. And then he turns down my request for a copy of the report of the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General.

Gen. Esperon’s conduct or rather, misconduct, only reinforces my belief that the Army abducted Jonas and Gen. Esperon is covering up for the Army.

I am the mother of a desaparecido, the victim of enforced disappearance by unidentified persons who was taken into a vehicle with plate no. TAB 194 traced to the 56th Infantry Battalion whose 2 previous commanding officers, Lt. Col. Melquiades L. Feliciano and Lt. Col. Noel S. Clement were, among others, the subject of the investigation of the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General.

I have all the right to know what the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General have found out in the investigation of these two former commanding officers of the 56th IB.

My right to know vital information about my son, and even more important, my son’s well-being has primacy over the perceived injury that may suffer or the perceived preemption of the final outcome of the investigation, assuming that it is still on-going (according to media reports the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General has concluded their investigations and submitted them to Gen. Esperon).

Certainly, the perceived injury to certain parties by a “premature” disclosure of the report can never be as substantial as the very real risk of serious harm, or even death, that may befall my son with every delay in the efforts to find him.

The excuse of Gen. Esperon in turning down my legitimate request is unacceptable to me. I need to find Jonas and the report that Gen. Esperon is withholding from me I know will help me find him.

I repeat, I accuse the Army of the crime of kidnapping my son Jonas on April 28, 2007 at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Quezon City. I strongly suspect that either or both of the former commanding officers of the 56th IB, Lt. Col. Clement and Lt. Col. Feliciano are participants in that crime. And the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, is covering up the crime committed against Jonas.

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king;my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. - Psalm 45:1

Walang Maitutulong Ang Imbestigasyon Sa Kaso Ni Jonas Burgos: AFP

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 02 Jul) – Kahit na ipilit ng mga kaanak ng nawawalang aktibista at anak ng publisher na si Jonas Burgos na makakuha ng sipi ng resulta ng imbestigasyon ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), wala itong mapapala upang masolusyunan ang kaso.

Ayon kay Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., natuon lamang sa nawawalang plaka ng sasakyan na naka-impound sa kampo ng 56th Infantry Battalion sa Norzagaray, Bulacan ang imbestigasyon at hindi sa pagtukoy kung sino ang dumukot kay Burgos sa hanay ng militar.

Ang naturang plakang nawawala ay namataan umanong ginamit sa get-away vehicle nang dukutin si Burgos."The matter of releasing the document is not material to solving the abduction itself," punto ni Esperon na tumutukoy sa resulta ng pagsisiyasat ng AFP Provost Marshal hinggil sa nasabing isyu.

Ipinahiwatig na rin ng heneral ang hindi pagpayag na mabigyan ng kopya ang pamilya Burgos ng Provost Marshal report sa harap ng pag-aaral na isinasagawa ng Judge Advocate General's Office (JAGO) kung legal na ilabas ang pag-uulat nito sa kontrobersya.

Bahagi ng polisiya ng AFP ang manatiling confidential ang mga dokumento nito.

Bagamat nauunawaan ni Esperon ang alegasyon ni Mrs. Editha Burgos na mayroong cover-up sa pag-uungat ng AFP sa naturang isyu, naninindigan siyang walang alam ang militar sa pagkawala ng batang Burgos.

"If there is any allegation that there is a cover up, I understand there is a grieving mother but I must assure her that we are doing our best to help out in the situation," pahayag pa ni Esperon. (Juley Reyes)

AFP, Patuloy Na Nagmamatigas Sa "Jonas Burgos" Case!

Mga kaibigan at pamilya ni Jonas Burgos sa isang rally sa Maynila.

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 28 Jun) – Nagmatagis kanina ang Armed Forces of the Philippines na hindi nito ililitaw ang dokumentong nagtataglay ng resulta ng isang imbestigasyon sa mga miyembro ng Army ukol sa pagkawala ng aktibistang si Jonas Burgos.

Nais ng pamilya ni Burgos na makakuha ng kopya ng imbestigasyon na ginawa ng Provost Marshal. Isinabit ng pamilya ni Burgos ang mga sundalo ng 56th Infantry Battalion dahil sa isang plaka ng sasakyan nasa pangangalaga nito ang siyang ginamit ng get-away vehicle sa pagdukot kay Burgos sa Gotesco Mall mahigit dalawang buwan na ang nakaraan.

Sinabi ni AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro na confidential ang mga dokumento at hindi puwedeng isa-publiko. Gayunman, idinagdag nitong pinag-aaralan ng Judge Advocate General's Office (JAGO) kung papayagan ang pamilya Burgos na makakuha ng kopya ng Provost Marshal report.

Ang AFP Provost Marshal ang nagsagawa ng pagbusisi hinggil sa umano'y kapabayaan ng ilang opisyal at tauhan nito nang manakaw ang plaka ng naka-impound na trak sa kampo ng 56th Infantry Battalion ng Philippine Army sa Norzagaray, Bulacan at nakitang ginamit sa get-away vehicle nang tangayin si Burgos.

Ngunit kung susundin aniya ang normal na regulasyon sa militar, hindi maaaring ilabas ang investigation report dahil isa itong panloob na dokumento ng AFP.

"It is an internal document of the AFP. Normally, it is not for disclosure," ani Bacarro.

Lalo naman nagdiin sa AFP ang pagkakasangkot nito sa pagkawala ni Burgos dagil sa pagtatago ng dokumento, ayon sa mga kaibigan ni Burgos. Baka pa umano magkaroon ng "white wash" sa resulta ng imbestigasyon o kaya ay mabago ang mga nakasaad doon.

Una nang pinaratangan ni Editha Burgos, ang ina ni Jonas, si AFP Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. na nagtatakip sa mga tauhan nitong dawit sa pagdukot umano kay Jonas.

Mariin namang itinatanggi ng AFP ang nasabing akusasyon dahil kung tutuusin ay nagsagawa ng pag-iimbestiga ang organisasyon sa maaaring kinalaman ng kanilang ng mga tauhan sa insidente.

"General Esperon is not covering up anything. As a matter of fact even during the start of this issue, the AFP came out with a statement saying that anybody who will be implicated or who will be, whose names will come out as a result of the investigation being conducted by the Philippine National Police will be made available so we are not covering up anything," dagdag ni Bacarro.

Hindi rin nakatitiyak si Bacarro kung may mapapala ang pamilya Burgos sa Provost Marshal report gayung natutuon lamang sa nawawalang plaka ang pag-uungkat nito. (Juley Reyes at Juan Magtanggol)

ISAFP Chief, Humingi Ng Paumanhin Sa Human Rights Commission

SULU (Mindanao Examiner / 07 Jun) - Humingi ng paumanhin ngayon sa Commission on Human Rights (CHR) ang pinuno ng Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) sa naging pagliban nito sa dalawang pagdinig ng ahensya hinggil sa pagkawala ng aktibistang si Jonas Burgos.

Sa isang liham sa CHR ay nagpakumbaba naman ang opisyal at sinabi pa ni ISAFP Chief Major General Delfin Bangit na nakahanda naman itong tumestigo sa mga susunod pang pagdinig ng CHR.

"Today, I wrote the Commission apologizing for my absence," ani Bangit sa pahayagang Mindanao Examiner.

Idinagdag pa ni Bangit na inimbitahan nito ang ina ni Burgos na si Editha upang pag-usapan ang kaso. Ang militar ang pangunahing pinagdududahang responsable sa pagdukot sa batang Burgos noong Abril sa Quezon City.

Ito'y bunsod na rin ng pagkakadiskubre ng nawawalang plaka ng sasakyang nakatambak sa kampo ng Philippine Army sa Norzagaray, Bulacan at sinasabing nagamit sa getaway vehicle kay Burgos. (Juley Reyes)

Ina Ng Nawawalang Aktibista, Di Nagpakita Sa Pulong!

QUEZON CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 06 Jun) - Hindi nagpakita kanina ang ina ng nawawalang anak ng dating publisher at aktibistang si Jonas Burgos sa itinakdang pakikipagpulong nito kay Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.

Umano'y naramdaman ni Mrs. Edith Burgos na gagamitin lamang siya nina Esperon at Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita upang magkaroon ng publisidad na may pakikipagtulungan ang militar sa paghahanap sa batang Burgos.

Ang militar ang pangunahing pinagdududahan na dumukot kay Burgos at natunton rin sa isang kampo ng Philippine Army sa Norzagaray, Bulacan ang sasakyan na may nawawalang plaka at ginamit sa getaway vehicle sa biktima.

Si Jonas ay nagsisilbing consultant para sa Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

Subalit, sinabi ni Armed Forces Public Information Office Chief Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro na dumating sa pulong ang tiyuhin at abogado ni Jonas ngunit nabigong makausap si Esperon dahil dumating ang mga ito ng dakong alas-10 ng umaga o isang oras nang nahuli sa usapan.

Si Colonel Daniel Lucero, ang executive assistant ni Esperon at ang hepe ng AFP Human Rights Office na si Colonel Benedicto Jose ang kumausap sa tiyuhin at abogado ng batang Burgos. (Juley Reyes)

Search For Missing Activist Continues, Supports Mounting!

Photo by Bulatlat.

The Free Jonas Burgos Movement (FJBM) calls on all our colleagues in the artists' and writers' circle to manifest their support in our call to the AFP, PNP and the GMA government to double their effort in locating Jonas Joseph Burgos, son of late press freedom icon Jose "Joe" Burgos, who was abducted on April 28, 2007 at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

We are humbly soliciting your signatures in support of our call to surface Jonas and all "desaparecidos" and demand justice for all the victims of human rights violations of the current regime and previous governments in our country.

We are hopeful that we would be united in this call. Every name counts. You count.To sign, please send your name at freejonasburgosmovement@yahoo.com.

For more information call 063 4546468. Please pass to all fellow artists and writers. Free Jonas Burgos. Free all Desaparecidos.

Jonas Burgos, the son of the late press freedom fighter Joe Burgos, has kept himself in low profile for all his years spent teaching farmers about natural and self-sustaining farming techniques. But now even his captors may have been caught by surprise at the national and international furor his abduction generated.

His abduction immediately made the headlines. And that may be due to his surname. Jonas Burgos, the son of the late press freedom fighter Joe Burgos, has kept himself in low profile for all his years spent teaching farmers about natural and self-sustaining farming techniques. But now even his captors may have been caught by surprise at the national and international furor his abduction generated.

The closest Jonas would get to follow the footsteps of his journalist father was to delve into photojournalism, Jonas’ younger brother, JL, told Bulatlat in an interview during an indignation rally held May 4 at the People Power Monument along the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

More than a hundred friends and supporters marched at least two kilometers along EDSA to demand the safe and immediate release of Jonas who was abducted April 28 in broad daylight, 12 noon, inside the Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Witnesses testified that the younger Burgos was accosted by two unidentified men and was “held by the hands and feet” and taken to a waiting van outside the mall.

The Burgos family has been searching for him since but his whereabouts remains undetermined.

Human rights groups and old friends of the family since Martial Law accused state security agents of being behind Jonas’ enforced disappearance. The military top brass had denied the accusation while police authorities have vowed to locate the missing Jonas.

Farmer-activist

Jonas, the third of five children, took up political science at the San Beda College. “Pero hindi nya tinapos,” JL said, “kasi ang hilig nya talaga ay ang pagsasaka.” (But he did not complete his course because he was really interested in agriculture.)

He may have taken the passion for farming from their parents, JL said. Their parents plant organic palay (unhusked rice grain), corn, vegetables and fruit bearing trees in their 12-hectare agricultural lot in Barangay Tartaro, San Miguel town in the province of Bulacan.

The 36-year-old Jonas finished BS Agriculture at the Benguet State University. After which, he helped manage their farm especially when his father got ill. The older Burgos died of stroke in November 2003 and left the farm to his wife, Edith, and their five children.

By then, Jonas had been sharing his knowledge to his barrio mates and introduced organic farming to peasants in their town and other surrounding areas. He had since been a member of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan (AMB or Alliance of Concerned Peasants in Bulacan), the local chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Peasant Movement of the Philippines) in the province.

“Nung bata pa kami, nagpakita na si utol ng pagmamalasakit sa kapwa,” (Even when we were still children, my brother had already shown his concern for others.) JL said as he remembers his brother taking the slippers of their father and giving it to an elderly woman knocking at their door for alms.

During their younger years, JL said, they also helped in their family’s rice advocacy campaign for high school students who went to their farm for summer exposure.

The difference

Two weeks before Jonas was abducted, JL said, he and Jonas talked about the intensifying political situation that has led to unabated killings, disappearances and harassment of political activists.

“Alam namin delikado lahat ng aktibista pero hindi namin inisip na may mangyayari sa kanya,” (We knew that it is dangerous for activists but we did not think that something would happen to him.) JL said shaking his head. He said his family did not notice any obvious threat against Jonas until he went missing.

“Lumaki kami na hinaharas ang tatay namin at ang buong pamilya,” (We grew up in a situation where our father and the whole family was being harassed.) JL said. Their parents were then publishers of one of the first anti-dictatorship newspaper during Martial Law, the We Forum.

The older Burgos, however, was not able to evade Martial Law authorities for long. Their press office was raided by the Metropolitan Command (Metrocom) on December 7, 1982 and Joe Burgos, together with the editors and staff of We Forum, was arrested and stayed in prison for almost a year.

“Pero nung martial law, may warrant of arrest nung kinuha nila ang tatay ko. Ngayong sinasabi na nagbalik na ang demokrasya, ngayon lang may nawala sa pamilya namin at hindi ito panahon ng martial law,” (During Martial Law they had a warrant when they arrested my father. It is ironic that it is now when democracy was supposedly restored that one of our family members was forcibly disappeared. And it is not even Martial Law.) JL said.

Missing in Bulacan

The province of Bulacan counts for the most number ofmissing individuals since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo held power in 2001. Jonas is the 26th victim of enforced disappearance in the province.

Victims of forced disappearances in Bulacan included Bernie Santos, a farmer from the town of San Miguel who was abducted April 24, 2005 allegedly by soldiers of the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) based in Camp Tecson; farmer Manuel Merino and University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Emepeño who were roused from sleep and were dragged to a jeepney-type vehicle before dawn of June 26, 2006.

Ricardo Valmocina Jr. and Robin Solano who were abducted inside the CV Tamayo Farms in Barangay Pinaod, San Ildefonso town; and jeepney driver and Anakpawis provincial coordinator Emerito Lipio who was abducted July 3, 2006.

Oscar Leuterio, a security guard of the Metal Ore Company in the town of Doña Remedios Trinidad was also abducted April 17, 2006 and was held incommunicado for five months inside a safehouse in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, the headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (ID PA).

He was released on September of the same year when he agreed to work for the military.

Leuterio, however, sought the assistance of human rights groups and instead testified in court that he saw several victims of abductions inside the same safehouse. He now serves as witness to the abduction of the two UP students who, Leuterio said, were also seen inside the Fort Magsaysay headquarters.

There are 199 victims of enforced disappearance from Jan. 2001 to May 2007, records from the human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples’ Rights) show. (With reports from Dabet Castaneda of Bulatlat)

Army Handang Makipagtulungan Sa Jonas Burgos Abduction

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 24 May) – Walang balak ang liderato ng Philippine Army na itago ang mga tauhan nitong nais gisahin ng Philippine National Police (PNP) sa pag-uungkat na may kaugnayan sa pagkawala ng anak ng dating Malaya publisher at aktibistang si Jonas Burgos.

Binigyang-diin ni Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres, Jr. na pahaharapin nito ang isang opisyal at dalawang enlisted personnel ng Bulakan upang maliwanagan ang pulisya sa pagkawala ng plaka ng isang trak na naka-impound sa kampo ng militar at nagamit umano sa sasakyang ipinantangay sa batang Burgos.

Handa rin aniya ang Army na makipagtulungan sa anumang imbestigasyon sa mga miyembro nitong nadadawit sa kaso.

Gayunman, mahigpit ang paninindigan ni Torres na walang itinatago ang militar at hindi nito trabaho ang magsagawa ng sinasabing pagdukot at extrajudicial killings.

Binigyan ng ultimatum ng PNP sina Lieutenant Colonel Melquiades Feliciano, battalion commander ng 56th Infantry Battalion sa Norzagaray, Bulacan, Corporal Castro Bugalon at Private 1st Class Jose Villena hanggang Mayo 31 upang humarap sa Kampo Krame.

Una na aniyang tinaningan ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) ang tatlo noong Mayo 10 upang humarap sa mga imbestigador subalit hindi sumipot.

Ngunit ayon kay AFP Public Information Office Chief Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro, kahapon lamang din nagpakita ang mga nabanggit na sundalo sa CIDG.

Partikular na hinihingi ng pulisya ang paliwanag ng tatlong militar sa pagkawala ng plakang TAB 194 na nakarehistro sa pangalang Mauro Mudlong ng Norzagaray, isang bayan sa Bulacan.

"We are giving them until May 31, 2007 to appear before the CIDG to give their side, otherwise they will be cited for contempt. The CIDG has the authority to issue summons and cite for contempt anybody who will ignore these summons," paliwanag ni Chief Superintendent Geary Barias.

Militar ang pangunahing pinagbibintangan ng pamilya ni Burgos sa pagkawala nito. (Juley Reyes)

Kapabayaan, Inamin Ng Armed Forces!

QUEZON CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 22 May) – Aminado ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na nagkaroon ng kapabayaan sa mga tauhan ng militar para bantayan ang mga nakukumpiskang sasakyan na nasa kanilang kustodiya.

Ito'y may kaugnayan sa nawawalang plaka ng trak na naka-impound sa kampo ng 56th Infantry Battalion ng Philippine Army ngunit natuntong idinikit sa ibang sasakyan na ginamit sa pagdukot sa anak ng dating Malaya publisher Joe Burgos na si Jonas Burgos.

Sinabi nina AFP Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. at Army Chief Lieutenant General Romeo Tolentino na maituturing na administrative lapses ang pagkawala ng nasabing plaka ng sasakyan.

Ngunit hindi naman ito pinaniwalaan ng pamilyang Burgos. Militar ang itinuturong nasa likod ng pagdukot kay Burgos na isang aktibista.

Inamin rin ni Tolentino na hindi lamang sa 56th IB nangyari ang ganitong kapabayaan kundi maging sa iba pang kampo kung kayat nagkaroon na rin ng imbentaryo at naparusahan ang mga pumalpak sa seguridad.

Hindi naman aniya inaasahan ng militar na maaaring magamit sa anumang ilegal na aktibidad ng ibang tao ang mga sasakyang nasa kanilang kustodiya dahil nakakalimutan na nila ito sa paglipas ng panahon.

"Sa ibang units napabayaan, nawawala rin, napabayaan. Pero pinag-i-inventory na namin para as of this date alam na natin wala meron tayong record, kasi mas mahirap kung me ganun na situation saka sabihin na nawala eh hindi tayo paniniwalaan ng tao yan," ani Tolentino.

Bahagi aniya ng parusa sa mga ganitong kapabayaan ay ang babala sa mga kumander na lilitaw sa rekord nito at makakaapekto sa promosyon. (Juley Reyes)

Militar, Alarmado Sa Burgos Kidnapping

QUEZON CITY – Mismong ang liderato ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ay naalarma na rin sa pagpaparatang sa institusyon sa pagkawala ng aktibista at anak ng publisher na si Jonas Joseph Burgos.

Gayunman, agad na sinabi ni AFP Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. na walang kinalaman ang militar sa sinasabing pagdukot sa batang Burgos.

Nabatid kay Esperon na pinakilos na ang Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) upang hanapin si Burgos.

Bukod pa rito, nag-iimbestiga na rin ang Provost Marshall ng Philippine Army matapos na matunton ang kumpiskadong illegal logging truck na dapat sana ay may plakang ginamit bilang getaway vehicle sa pagtangay sa biktima sa headquarters ng 56th Infantry Battalion.

Sinabi ni Esperon na ang naturang truck ay na-impound sa 56th Infantry Battalion noong Hunyo 2006 dahil sa pagdadala ng ilegal na troso at iniimbestigahan kung paanong napunta ang plaka nito sa isang Toyota Revo na naging sasakyan para tumakas ang mga suspek bitbit si Burgos.

Walang nakikitang ugnayan ang AFP Chief sa natuntong logging truck sa kampo ng militar at sa pagdukot kay Burgos bagamat hindi aniya nito isinasara ang posibilidad sa maaaring pananagutan ng ilang tauhan nito. (Juley Reyes)

Kaso Ng Dinukot Na Aktibista, Lumalalim!

QUEZON CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 07 May) - Natunton sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ang sasakyang ginamit diumano sa pagdukot sa aktibistang si Jonas Joseph Burgos, anak ng namayapang Malaya newspaper publisher and press freedom advocate na si Jose Burgos.

Sinabi ni Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-NCR Chief Senior Superintendent Joel Napoleon Coronel na ang nakarehistrong may-ari ng sasakyang may plakang TAB 194, na naka-impound sa DENR ang naturang utility vehicle, ay natunton sa isang Mauro Mudlong.

Ngunit nuong Hunyo 24 ng nakaraang taon pa aniya ito na-impound ng DENR dahil sa paniniwalang ginagamit sa illegal logging operations.

Una nang nagpadala ng grupo ng mga imbestigasyon sa bayan ng Norzagaray sa lalawigan ng Bulacan upang makapanayam ang may-ari ng sasakyang tumugma sa deskripsyon ng ginamit sa pagtangay sa batang Burgos.

Se beripikasyon sa Land Transportation office, natukoy ang sasakyan na 1991 model ng Isuzu utility at pagmamay-ari nga ni Mudlong.

Ngunit, ayon sa mga saksi, isang Toyota Revo ang ginamit nang dukutin si Burgos sa Quezon City. (Juley Reyes)

AFP Walang Kinalaman Sa Burgos Case, Aquino Spying: Esperon

MANILA – Mariin ang pagpalag ngayon ni Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. sa pagtatrato sa militar bilang suspek sa pagkawala ng anak ng publisher na si Jonas Burgos.

Kasabay nito ang depensa ni Esperon sa nabigong pagharap nina Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) Chief Major General Delfin Banguit at AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Commodore Leonardo Calderon sa pagdinig ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) kanina.

Iginiit ng heneral na maling idiin ang AFP sa naturang insidente gayung kahit na gisahin pa sila ay hindi rin ito makakatulong para mapalutang ang batang Burgos.

"I do not think that is the correct way of putting things, we can certainly help by looking into the matter and probably gather more information, but it would be off tangent to be alleging that the military is the suspect," ani Esperon sa pahayagang Mindanao Examiner.

"I don't think we can contribute to the solution of the problem by being called and grilled and appear, and look like suspects," dagdag nito.

Bukod dito, ikinatwiran ni Esperon na wala ring ipinadalang pormal na imbitasyon ang CHR sa AFP at hindi rin nakipag-ugnayan sa CHR office sa militar.

Naninindigan ang AFP Chief na walang kinalaman ang militar sa nangyari kay Burgos dahil hindi ito ang uri ng operasyon na kanilang isinasakatuparan.

Ibinintang rin sa AFP ang umano’y pange-espiya sa dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino matapos na matagpuan ang isang bugging device sa linya ng telepono nito sa labas lamang ng kanilang bahay sa Quezon City.

Bagamat inamin ni AFP Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro na may kapabilidad ang militar na magsagawa ng surveillance operations, hindi nito pag-aaksayahan ng panahon na ilegal na tiktikan ang dating Presidente.

Maaaring kagagawan aniya ng ibang grupo na may sariling interes ang naturang hakbang.

Sinabi ni Bacarro na may basbas o kautusan ng hukuman sakaling magsagawa man ng paniniktik ang AFP.

"Definitely there are court orders allowing us to do that then we will do that, but of course ma-satisfy 'yung requirements, justified kung ano purpose ng paggamit nang ganung capability," ani Bacarro.

Naniniwala si Bacarro na sa kasalukuyang makabagong teknolohiya, simple na lang at madaling isakatuparan ang wiretapping.

"If you get another telephone, attach it to the line, anybody can do it, you can use another telephone as a listening device, it's just parang extension, ganun ang concept nun," ani Bacarro.

Gayunman, walang balak ang AFP na magsagawa ng imbestigasyon hinggil sa nadiskubreng wiretapping device sa mga Aquino.

Inaasahan na rin ng militar na palagiang mapagbintangan ang AFP bilang suspek sa paniniktik.
"Some groups will take advantage of hitting the Armed Forces of the Philippines again, we would be the easiest excuse or the way out definitely merong mga pointing fingers na naman dyan," dagdag ng opisyal. (Juley Reyes)

Search Is On For Missing Political Activist

QUEZON CITY - The Families of Desaparecidos for Justice (DESAPARECIDOS) condemned the disappearance of Jonas Joseph Burgos and Melisa Reyes, on April 28, in Quezon City.

Burgos, or Jay-Jay, 38, son of press freedom icon Jose "Joe" Burgos Jr., failed to come home to his family in Tandang Sora, Quezon City on April 28.

His anxious family tried to contact him through his cellphone the whole night, but it was only at 10:46 AM the next day that they received messages from him which did not make any sense.

His family was still able to talk to him on the phone but his voice sounded drowsy and his words did not make sense as if he were drugged.

It was learned that Melisa Reyes, and a still to be identified male companion of Jayjay also failed to come home on the evening of April 28.

Burgos had been giving agri technology trainings to members of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan (AMB), a provincial chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

"This is a brazen act which only state security forces will have the motive and gall to carry out. It's ironic that it happened to a member of the Burgosfamily that had opposed and survived Martial Law and still continues to defend civil rights and press freedom," said Ghay Portajada, spokesperson ofDesaparecidos.

Portajada also noted that Jay-jay's disappearance happened, not in a remote village in the countrysides, but here in Quezon City where there is much presence of both police and military elements.

"We call on the responsible elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to surface Jay-jay and his companions. We dare the Arroyo administration tosolve this disappearance, and use all possible resources and technologies to locate Jay-jay, whose phone is still active and could actually be tracked,"said Portajada.

"We pray that Jay-jay and his companions will be surfaced alive, just like urban poor leader Lourdes "Nay Ude" Rubrico, who was abducted, detained and released by intelligence agents for one week at the Fernando Basa Air Base in Lipa City in Batangas province.

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)