General linked in abduction of Jonas Burgos feels ‘happy over promotion’

Eduardo Año. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Brigadier General Eduardo Año, the senior officer linked to the abduction of activist Jonas Burgos, felt jubilated as the Commission on Appointments approved his confirmation on Wednesday.

“Masayang-masaya ako finally kasi wala namang basis yung allegations ni Mrs. [Edita] Burgos (I am very happy finally because the allegations of Mrs. Burgos have no basis),” he told INQUIRER.net by phone.

Appointments of 68 other military officers were approved Wednesday by the CA.

Año, the chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), said that his promotion of rank was confirmed as the Department of Justice already cleared him of charges early this month, and that he already answered all the allegations of Mrs. Burgos.

“I am really thankful for this. It’s an answered prayer. I can now focus on my job,” he said on the dismissal of the case and his confirmation, adding what he went through was a “humbling experience.”

The officer insisted that he did not know anything about the disappearance of the activist.

“I just found out about in the newspaper in 2007. It’s unfair to accuse me just because I was the commander of the Intelligence Security Group at that time,” he said.

“I think it was because that as a mother she was desperate looking for her missing son, of course she will be very emotional. Her tendency is to believe whatever hearsay related to her son in hopes to elicit information. It’s so unfair for me in my 34 years in the military service. I never committed any wrongdoing. I’ve never been charged of any human-rights violation.”

The general said he was willing to help in locating Burgos.

WHERE’S JONAS? After almost six years of fruitless search, this photo of Jonas Burgos, reportedly taken days after he was abducted, has surfaced, with the handkerchief used as blindfold still around his neck. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“We have a team led by the National Bureau of Investigation in the search for Burgos, and we at ISAFP are involved. There is a lead task force agency for that but we are helping,” he said.

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