PNP admits facing a blank wall on Burgos disappearance

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted yesterday that investigators are facing a blank wall in the probe of the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos more than four years ago.

PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said the police continue to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Burgos’ whereabouts.

“We have been a part of that (investigation on Burgos), the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) is investigating but sad to say it’s really a blank wall up to now and with the decision of the Supreme Court (SC), we are closely coordinating with the AFP,” Bacalzo said.

The SC has ordered the AFP to produce Burgos, who was kidnapped in a shopping mall in Fairview, Quezon City on April 28, 2007.

A case had previously been filed against a certain Delfin de Guzman, with aliases Baste and Sebastian, and the PNP is still looking for the chairman of the Bulacan party committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

The AFP had denied any knowledge in the abduction of Burgos.

Earlier, three NPA members – Emerito Lipio, alias Ka Tibo; Marlon Manuel, alias Ka Carlo, and Melissa Concepcion Reyes, alias Ka Lisa – corroborated their statement accusing the group of De Guzman as being responsible for Burgos’ disappearance.

Aside from De Guzman, the three also named a certain Ka Dante and Enso as among the four men who actually took Burgos and shoved him inside a waiting Toyota Revo van. Burgos has not been seen since.

In line with this, the PNP said it is hoping to decrease the statistics of unexplained killings with policemen continuing to get training on crime investigation.

Bacalzo said the series of training would make policemen more competent in investigating cases, thus ensuring bigger percentage of crime solution and certainty of arrest of perpetrators.

“Definitely, we expect that (a significant decrease in unexplained killing). Policemen will know the process of investigation,” he said, admitting that many policemen, particularly in the provinces, were merely relying on witnesses when investigating crimes and oftentimes overlook the value of evidence.

Bacalzo thanked the European Union Delegation to the Philippines for the overall output of the framework of the EU-Philippines Justice Support (EPJUST) Program, which was started in October 2009.

He said the EPJUST Program is mandated to assist the country in addressing issues on extralegal killings and enforced disappearances as well as the awareness of law enforcers on human rights.

“It aims to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the country’s Criminal Justice System, Commission on Human Rights and Civil Society Organizations in performing their respective duties and tasks,” Bacalzo added.

The delegations visited the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame yesterday and were received by Bacalzo and other PNP officials and personnel.

For his part, Ambassador Guy Ledoux said, “The EU stands ready to continue supporting you in order to definitively put an end to extralegal killings and disappearances for the betterment of your great country.”

Bacalzo said the program was able to provide technical assistance, training, advice and other activities to the PNP and AFP.

From July 2010 to May 31, 2011, Task Force Usig reported that there were a total of 15 cases with seven media personnel, five militant leaders/activists, two teachers and a worker’s union president killed.

Of the 15 cases, TF Usig said cases have been filed against the perpetrators of eight incidents, while seven cases are still under investigation.

Meanwhile, human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) said the country’s human rights situation is showing little progress one year after President Aquino took office. – With Artemio Dumlao