SC asked to reopen Jonas Burgos case

MANILA, Philippines - More military officers have been implicated in the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos in 2007.

Edita Burgos has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to order the Court of Appeals (CA) to reopen the case of her son based on new evidence from an unnamed source.

Last March 18, the CA held the military and the police accountable for the disappearance of Jonas.

Burgos submitted to the SC documents entitled “After Apprehension Report,” a “Psycho Social Processing Report” and an “Autobiography of Jonas Burgos” taken from confidential records from the Army.

She said the documents will prove that an intelligence unit of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division and 56th Infantry Battalion took Jonas on April 28, 2007 at the Ever Gotesco Mall on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

The documents were contained in a sealed envelope submitted to the SC.

She also furnished the SC with a photo of Jonas supposedly taken in detention.

Acting on Burgos’ petition for amparo, the CA pointed to Maj. Harry Baliaga Jr., a first lieutenant at the time, as being responsible for the disappearance of Jonas.

Baliaga belongs to the 56th IB based in Bulacan.

Burgos told reporters she believes more Army men were involved in the disappearance of Jonas.

“We would like the Supreme Court to reopen the case, give it back to the Court of Appeals and for us also to be able to present additional evidence and for the Court of Appeals to hear and accept the evidence and to identify the abductors, the people guilty,” she said.

Police are coordinating with the military in investigating the disappearance of Jonas.

Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., Philippine National Police spokesman, said police will check with the Armed Forces whether a warrant of arrest was served on Jonas.

“We will ask the AFP what should be pursued in the case of Burgos,” he said. “I will check if the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) or concerned local police unit has pending investigation on Burgos’ case.”

In a text message to The STAR, Cerbo said Director General Alan Purisima will order police units to look into the case of Jonas.

“Most definitely the top leadership will respect the findings of the CA,” he said. “Concerned offices will be directed to look into the matter.”

In a statement, Armed Forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said the military does not condone illegal activities.

“We will continue to monitor the developments of the case, and we will remain open should the higher civilian authority require our cooperation and service,” he said. “The AFP submits to the legal processes, adheres to the rule of law and continues to uphold and respect human rights.”

Burgos noted that the family of Jonas has the right to seek legal remedies.

“It is well within their constitutional rights to file such motion in the proper court,” he said.

“We continue to be one with our people in the quest for truth and justice.” – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Alexis Romero