Cardinal Tagle tells Edita Burgos not to lose hope in search for Jonas
By Tina G. Santos
It has been six years since farmer-activist Jonas Burgos disappeared, but his mother Edita never wavered in hoping and believing that he is still alive.
It has been six years since farmer-activist Jonas Burgos disappeared, but his mother Edita never wavered in hoping and believing that he is still alive.
Where is Jonas Burgos? Is he still alive? Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Thursday the inquiry to be conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation on orders of President Aquino would determine answers to these questions nearly five years after activist Jonas Burgos, son of the late press freedom icon Joe Burgos, disappeared after being abducted.
The military is now prohibited from issuing a hit list—officially called “order of battle”—with the enactment of a law against enforced disappearances, Malacañang said on Saturday.
Lawmakers and human rights watchdogs on Thursday urged President Aquino to immediately sign a bill penalizing “enforced disappearances” to allow the government to go after those behind the abductions of activist Jonas Burgos, students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, and other people.
The ratification by Congress of a bill penalizing enforced disappearances has brought hope to the families and supporters of Jonas Burgos, Karen Empeño, Sherlyn Cadapan and other Filipino “desaparecidos.”
Before long the Philippines may enact the very first national law in Asia which criminalizes enforced disappearances or the “arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State.”
Lawmakers on Tuesday night ratified the bicameral report of a bill seeking to criminalize enforced disappearances.
For nearly 24 years, Grace Topacio hung on to the image of a jolly Renato to keep her husband’s memory alive.
The Court of Appeals nixed the bid of Edita Burgos, mother of missing political activist Jonas Burgos to compel the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the commanding general of the Philippine Army to testify and present evidence on the continuing inquiry surrounding the disappearance of her son five years ago.
A lawyer for the families of two missing University of the Philippines activists on Saturday assailed the claim of fugitive retired Major General Jovito Palparan that he was the victim in the abduction case that has prompted him to run from the law.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Saturday the government was verifying reports of sightings of retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan, who has eluded the authorities more than a month after a court in Bulacan ordered his arrest.
The Army’s 7th Infantry Division on Friday denied coddling retired Major General Jovito Palparan, who has eluded arrest since December 20 to face trial on charges of kidnapping and illegally detaining two University of the Philippines students in Bulacan in 2006.
The fugitive Jovito Palparan is reported to have sought refuge in Southern Mindanao, Davao City police director Senior Superintendent Rene Aspera said Friday.
