Missing activist’s mother asks DOJ to review recommendation

MANILA, Philippines - The mother of missing activist Jonas Burgos has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to set aside its earlier recommendation and file charges of arbitrary detention and obstruction of justice against seven active and retired officials  of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police.

In a 20-page motion for reconsideration, Burgos’ mother Edita asked the DOJ to review its resolution dated Sept. 3.

In the resolution, the DOJ only recommended the filing of arbitrary detention raps against Major Harry Baliaga Jr. and three unidentified persons, but it exonerated Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano and Col. Eduardo Año of the said charges due to insufficient evidence.

Mrs. Burgos, however, believes that arbitrary detention charges should also be lodged against Feliciano, Año, and other unidentified persons.

The DOJ also dismissed the obstruction of justice charges against Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano and former police chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon Jr. for lack of probable cause.

Mrs. Burgos said she believes otherwise and recommended that the four still be charged with obstruction of justice.

Burgos was alleged to be an intelligence head of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Bulacan and reportedly used the alias “Ramon.”

He was reportedly supposed to receive military information from Lt. Dick Abletes, a platoon leader of the 56th Infantry Battalion (IB), who was said to have been recruited by the NPA.

But Abletes was allegedly arrested and during his interrogation, the Army’s Intelligence Service Group (ISG) under Año and the 56th IB under Feliciano arranged a meeting with Burgos at Ever Gotesco Mall on April 28, 2007.

Burgos has since disappeared.

“While some of the foregoing evidence can be considered circumstantial, there are also direct evidence to prove that it was the military who abducted Jonas Burgos and respondents Col. Feliciano and Col. Año have knowledge if not participation in his abduction,” said Ricardo Fernandez, legal counsel of Mrs. Burgos.