On 12th anniversary of Jonas Burgos abduction, mom cries cover-up

The mother of  missing activist Jonas Burgos on Friday claimed previous and current administrations are part of efforts to conceal the location of her son, noting their broken promises and the country's "flawed" justice system.

As Jonas' family and friends commemorated the 12th year of his abduction, Edita Burgos said they are slowly accepting the reality that her son may never be found.

"Today as we commemorate the 12th year of the abduction of Jonas, we highlight the following realities. Number one, the past presidents — Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Simeon Aquino — failed to surface Jonas even if they promised they would help. Thus, it would be easy to conclude they are part of the cover up," Edita said.

Edita said the Burgos family and the families of other victims of enforced disappearances have also lost confidence in the justice system due to its failure to properly implement the law.

"The legal reliefs do not work in the Philippines. Only when the institutions cooperate will the laws be applied, thus no wonder, us the families, distrust the court and impunity continues," she said.

Edita and Jonas' wife, Mary Ann, slammed the current administration for its efforts to de-list the 625 cases of Filipinos who disappeared between 1975 to 2012 from the United Nations Working Group on Enforced and or Involuntary Disappearances.

"There is less hope of justice for the victims of enforced disappearance. The government only reveals their evil design to sweep under the rag all the cases of enforced disappearances, as if their memories will be erased. This is the height of insensitivity to the plight of the families," Edita said.

Mary Ann, for her part, scored Presidential Human Rights Committee chief Undersecretary Severo Catura for failing to consult any victims or their families, or the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) regarding the government's bid to de-list the cases.

"This move to de-list the 625 cases proves how insincere they are in upholding human rights. This is their concept of closure. But I have this to say... no one can stop us in our fight to serve our disappeared loved ones," an emotional Mary Ann said.

Suspected elements of the Philippine Army abducted Jonas on April 28, 2007 while inside a mall in Quezon City.

The Supreme Court ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to produce Jonas in 2007, with a warning that failure to follow its order means a contempt of court. 

Edita said the Burgos family already filed a petition to hold the Army leadership in contempt due to their failure to surface Jonas, but the SC has yet to issue a resolution on their plea. —KBK, GMA News