Burgos children seek gov’t aid

SAN MIGUEL, Bulacan – Children of the late press freedom fighter Jose Burgos yesterday asked President Arroyo to help them find their missing sibling, Jonas, and protect them from veiled threats.

"We are asking President Arroyo to help us find Jonas dahil isa siyang mabuting tao," said Jose Luis Burgos, the third child of the late Burgos, who was once recognized as one of the press freedom heroes of the world.

Jose Luis said his family is not accusing anyone in the disappearance of his elder brother Joseph Jonas early this week.

During a press conference at the 12-hectare Burgos family estate here, which coincided with the celebration of World Press Freedom Day, Jose Luis rectified earlier reports about his brother’s disappearance, saying Jonas was not abducted at the SM North Edsa mall, but at the Ever Gotesco mall in Quezon City.

He said his brother was taken at the food court of the Ever Gotesco and the vehicle used by suspects to make off with Jonas, a maroon Toyota Revo, was registered under a fictitious name with address in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

After saying a brief prayer before the Burgos patriarch’s tomb, which is located within the family estate, Burgos’ friends and family took turns telling the press how good Jonas had been.

Sonny, another of Jonas’ brothers, said that Jonas had never been in a fight: "He was very peaceful and helpful."

Jonas’ uncle, Edward Burgos, who had been detained with his late brother during the martial law years, said the situation today is harder than it had been during martial law.

During martial law, Edward said, they were charged and arrested. Today, people like Jonas, who worked as an agricultural technician and devoted his life to helping poor farmers, just disappear.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño, who visited the Burgos family, said that Jonas’ disappearance is a test case for the government.

"If Jonas cannot be found by the government, it will look like the government is useless despite their wide network and huge intelligence funds because they can do nothing," Casiño said in Filipino.

He said that the government must do everything it can to find Jonas and 198 other victims of forced disappearance and abduction.

The Burgos family also said that, since they went public about Jonas’ disappearance Monday, they have been watched and followed.

They said mysterious-looking men in sunglasses and helmets have been observed to be watching their house in Quezon City over the past days. – Dino Balabo