CHR granted access to 'Erap 5' files in Burgos probe

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court allowed the Commission on Human Rights to scrutinize documents on the so-called "Erap Five" abduction case.

The magistrates said that one of the suspects in the abduction of Virgilio Eustaquio, Ruben Dionisio, Police Officer 3 Jose Justo Curameng, Jim Lucio Cabauatan and Dennis Ebona might be linked to the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos.

Eustaquio earlier claimed that among those who abducted his group of former President Joseph Estrada's supporters in 2006 was an abductor of Burgos.

Burgos' mother, Edita Burgos, was also ordered by the high court to provide the Department of Justice (DOJ) a confidential new evidence.

Mrs. Burgos said the sealed evidence refers to an operation launched by the Philippine Army's 7th Infantry Division and the 56th Infantry Battalion where Burgos was believed to have been kidnapped.

The court also ordered the DOJ to conduct another investigation on Burgos' capture aided by the new evidence and Eustaquio's affidavit.

Related: SC asked to reopen Jonas Burgos case | Army major in Burgos case surrenders, posts bail