Intel official tagged in Burgos case promoted

MANILA, Philippines - The intelligence official implicated in the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos more than five years ago is among 53 newly promoted generals who will take their oath before President Aquino at Malacañang today.

Brig. Gen. Eduardo Año, the new chief of the Intelligence Service, has been described by military colleagues as a seasoned intelligence officer credited for the capture of several communist leaders.

He is one of the officers tagged in the kidnapping of Burgos who went missing in 2007.

Other generals to be sworn in include Armed Forces of the Philippines vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes and AFP deputy chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Macapagal. Coballes and Macapagal obtained their third stars recently.

Aside from Año, other military officers facing arbitrary detention raps are Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano and Maj. Harry Baliaga Jr.

Burgos was reportedly kidnapped by armed men in April 2007 and was dragged to a Toyota Revo van whose license plates were traced to another vehicle earlier impounded by the military in Bulacan.

The Commission on Human Rights earlier said the military should be held liable for Burgos’ disappearance. The CHR relied on the statements of two eyewitnesses said to be at the Quezon City restaurant where Burgos was abducted.

Militant groups claim the Burgos case and other incidents of torture and killings reflect the widespread human rights abuses by security forces. Officials, however, dismiss the claim as leftist propaganda and called on the activists to prove their allegations before the courts.

Other officers who will take their oath in Malacañang include Central Command chief Vice Adm. Jose Luis Alano, Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo, Southern Luzon Command chief and Maj. Gen. Alan Luga.

Joining them are division commanders Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz, Maj. Gen. Gerardo Layug, Maj. Gen, Nestor Añonuevo, Maj. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, Brig. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

Also promoted were Maj. Gen, Marlou Salazar, Rear Adm. Wenefredo Banua, Rear Adm. Zyril Carlos, Maj. Gen. Virgilio Domingo, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, Maj. Gen. Raul Dimatatac, Maj. Gen. Romeo Poquiz, Maj. Gen, Wilfredo Ona, Maj. Gen. Essel Soriano, Maj. Gen. Samuel Narbuada, and Rear Adm. Roberto Santos.

Other officers to be sworn in include Brigadier Generals Rene Santos, Alfredo Andres, Domingo Tutaan Jr. Gerardo Jamorabo, Jonas Sumagaysay, Danilo Peñafiel, Juanario Caringal, Romeo Gapuz, and Alexander Balutan.

Aquino will also administer the oaths of Brig. Generals Virgilio Espineli, Cesar Dionisio Sedillo, Yerson Depayso, Roberto Domines Jr., Lysander Suerte, Eusaquito Manalo, Silvino Alcabasa, John Bonafos, Rolando Picar, Gamaliel Cruz, Carlos Solomon, and Daniel Lucero.