Jonas Burgos’ mother vows to keep fighting after alleged abductor acquitted

Despite her heartbreak over the acquittal of the Army officer accused in her son's disappearance, Jonas Burgos' mother Edita vows to never give up her quest for justice.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Edita Burgos said that while she respects the decision of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 216 to acquit Major Harry Baliaga Jr., she disagrees with it.

"We respect the decision of the court, but we disagree. I don't see where the disagreement can bring us because that's the end of the line that the legal process is concerned with in as far as Baliaga is concerned," she said.

Burgos said that her family will seek other legal means to prosecute not only Baliaga, but others responsible for Jonas' disappearance.

Jonas, a political activist and son of the late press freedom fighter Jose Burgos, was abducted in a restaurant at the Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on April 28, 2007.

Jonas was believed seized by the military because the license plate number of the vehicle used in his abduction was traced to another vehicle impounded in 2006 at the 56th Infantry Battalion headquarters in Bulacan.

Among the military officers accused of involvement in Burgos' disappearance is General Eduardo Año, who was named AFP Chief of Staff in 2016.

In 2013, the Department of Justice dismissed charges of murder, obstruction of justice, and arbitrary detention against him and other ranking Army officials.

Desaparecidos

Burgos said that Baliaga's acquittal was heartbreaking not only for their family, but for the families of other victims of forced disappearance.

"I felt so bad because I was prepared for whatever decision that would come out. But when I went out and I saw my companions, mga families ng desaparecidos, nag-break talaga ang puso ko," she said.

"Alam nila kung sinong kumuha, wala silang proof. Sabi nila they were really pinning their hopes on the case of Jonas. Kasi meron kaming proof, pero nangyari ito. So nawasak din 'yung pagasa nila, na baka sakali sila din mahanap nila ang nawawala nila," she added.

Burgos said that she understands that she needs to accept the decision, but the turn of events has caused her to feel frustration with the Philippines' justice system.

"It's been two years. Wala naman silang prinesent na witness. 'Yung prosecution ang nag-present ng witnesses," she said.

"We have to follow what the law says. But it does not keep us from being frustrated and being unhappy," she added.

Despite the setback, Burgos said she will not stop looking for her son and seeking justice for him.

"We still have to wait, and do other things, in order to find him. But this doesn't mean that we will give up. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin kami," she said.

She advised government forces to clean up their ranks if they want Filipinos to support them.

She also said that it was impossible that military officials are clueless about the movements of their officers.

"Iilan lang naman ang gumagawa ng mga ganyan. If they really want the people to support their strategies...they should show they are sincere in cleaning the ranks. Imposibleng hindi nila alam, lalo nga kung ikaw ang Chief of Staff o head ng Intelligence Office, hindi pwede. But they don't want to say what the truth is, instead they cover up," she said.

Burgos also has a message of encouragement to other desaparecidos' families, saying that this was merely a bump that they can overcome.

"Hindi naman tayo natalo; na-delay lang. Kailangan tuloy tuloy pa rin kasi kung hindi tayo maghahanap, sino ang maghahanap ng mga nawawala natin?" she said. — BM, GMA News