De Lima forms NBI team to probe Burgos' disappearance

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the disappearance of Jonas Burgos.

De Lima issued an "urgent memorandum" ordering NBI Director Nonnatus Caesar R. Rojas to form a Special Team of Investigators mandated to conduct its own investigation into the unresolved case of the disappearance of Burgos.

De Lima noted the disappearance of Burgos has been determined by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Court of Appeals as a case of enforced disappearance.

The Special Team was ordered to conduct a thorough and independent evaluation of all available information and evidence gathered by the CHR, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

De Lima also ordered the Special Team to pursue other possible leads, collect further evidence and take all other necessary steps towards the end of "ferreting out the truth about the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, and determining who may be criminally charged under existing laws."

The justice secretary issued the memorandum following President Benigno Aquino III's order to revisit the abduction of Burgos.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday assured Burgos' mother, Edita, of the entire military organization's full cooperation.

The AFP said that it also wants to put closure on the issue hounding the military since Burgos was taken by armed elements in April 2007.