“We have done everything. This is the last bastion. If nothing happens to this, the whole justice system is not working at all. If they will continue to cover up [the crime], then there is no hope for the Philippines.”
By
RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA -After waiting for more than four years and the advent of a new government – that promised change – still, her son Joseph Jonas Burgos has not been surfaced despite overwhelming evidence pointing to the culprits: the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. Edita Burgos could not wait any longer. She filed June 9 criminal charges against soldiers and officers involved in the disappearance of her son and those involved in the coverup of the crime.
Named respondents to charges of arbitrary detention or possibly murder are Maj. Harry Baliaga Jr., identified by witnesses as one of those who abducted Jonas; Lt. Co. Melquiades Feliciano, former commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA); Col. Eduardo Ano of the Intelligence Service Group of the Philippine Army and several John Does and Mary Does.
Joseph Jonas Burgos, son of press freedom icon Jose Burgos Jr., was abducted on April 28, 2007 inside a mall in Quezon City. The license plate of the vehicle used in the abduction was traced to the 56th IBPA. He remains missing to this day.
Mrs. Burgos takes oath before Assistant Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano as she files her affidavit-complaint against military and police officers involved in the disappearance of Jonas.(Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / bulatlat.com) “We have done everything. This is the last bastion. If nothing happens to this, the whole justice system is not working at all. If they will continue to cover up [the crime], then there is no hope for the Philippines,” Mrs. Burgos said.
Baliaga has been identified by witness Jeffrey T. Cabintoy, a worker at the restaurant where Jonas was taken, as one of the abductors of Jonas. He was also identified by witness Edmond Dag-Uman, a former soldier, as an officer then assigned to the Bravo company of the 56th IB.
Mrs. Burgos said that Jonas was kidnapped by a team directly sanctioned by Feliciano and Ano and comprising of members of the 56th IB and ISG under their direct control and supervision.
Assistant Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano received the
complaint.
Mrs. Burgos was accompanied by her son JL, daughter Peachy, lawyers Ricardo Fernandez, Verena Kasilag-Villanueva and Roberto Lara, Karapatan chairwoman Marie Hilao-Enriquez and colleagues from Desaparecidos, an organization of families of victims of enforced disappearances.
Obstruction of justice
Also charged are Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief; Gen. Romeo Tolentino and Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, both of whom served as commanding general of the Philippine Army; and Gen. Avelino Razon, former Philippine National Police (PNP) for obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders.....
MORE
Source: Bulatlat.com
URL:
http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/10/mrs-burgos-files-criminal-charges-against-military-officials-involved-in-sons-abduction/