Renewed search for missing activist still draws blank wall, says PNP Chief Bacalzo

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) is coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in the renewed search for missing activist, Jonas Burgos, PNP Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said on Monday.

“The CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) is leading the investigation, but sad to say it’s really a blank wall up to now,” Bacalzo said. “With the decision of the Supreme Court ordering the AFP to find Mr. Burgos, we are closely coordinating with the Commission on Human Rights in the search.”

In the July 5 ruling that was released only on Thursday, the Supreme Court ordered the AFP to “surface” Burgos, and to release other student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, as well as farmer Manuel Merino, all of whom were allegedly abducted by military personnel five years ago.

Jonas Burgos was a son of the late newspaper publisher and himself an anti-martial law activist in the 1980’s, Jose “Joe” Burgos. Witnesses said the young Burgos was taken by armed men, and a woman, from a Quezon City mall in broad daylight on April 28, 2007.

A reinvestigation by the Commission on Human Rights, ordered by the Supreme Court, identified one of Burgos’ alleged abductors as one Army Lieutenant Harry Baliaga, Jr.