Still no clear lead on Burgos son's whereabouts

Despite having two witnesses, the police remain at a loss on finding leads to the whereabouts of the son of the late veteran journalist Jose “Joe" Burgos Jr. GMA’s Saksi reported on Tuesday that people who have so far emerged to testify on the circumstances leading to the alleged abduction of 36-year-old Jonas Joseph Burgos have yet helped shed light on the incident. Jonas, an agriculturist helping farmers of Bulacan, has been reported missing since Saturday afternoon. Saksi reported that according to police’s initial investigation, Jonas was last seen eating at a mall on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City Saturday when four men and a woman approached him. The report said even the Burgos family could yet say whether Jonas’ work as an agriculturist helping poor land tillers might have something to do with his disappearance. Also, Saksi said the family could yet verify the credibility of people claiming they saw Jonas' abduction. “Lahat ng nagbibigay ng mga witness, hindi ito magkakakilala, magkakaibang sources ito, (All those who provide witnesses do not know each other, they are different sources)" said Jay-el Burgos, Jonas’ brother. Meanwhile, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur C. Ocampo was concerned that a son of a press freedom icon fell victim to the latest casualty of "military-instigated" abductions of activists. Ocampo urged the military abductors to surface Jonas. "If they have a case against Jonas, the Armed Forces of the Philippines should go to court and not resort to extrajudicial measures," said Ocampo. "But what is his crime? Is it a crime to provide agricultural training to organized farmers?" asked Ocampo, referring to the younger Burgos' agricultural technology training for members of the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Bulacan. The Burgos family tends a small farm in Bulacan and advocates organic farming practices. The military denied on Tuesday that it has custody of Jonas. In a news briefing, Armed Forces information chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro lamented that it was unfair for militant groups to once again put the blame on the military for the sudden disappearance of the three. "We sympathize with the family (of Jonas Burgos) but we are just wondering why militant groups again will pick on (pointing) the accusing finger on the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Bacarro said. - GMANews.TV