Bayan eyes Jonas case as test for writ of amparo

The disappearance of agriculturist Jonas Joseph Burgos last April 28 in Quezon City will likely be the "test case" in the writ of amparo that the Supreme Court approved Tuesday, a militant group said. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said its lawyers will also ask the high court to help redress the disappearance of two University of the Philippines (UP) students. "In particular, and quite very urgent, are the cases of Jonas Burgos and the two missing UP students who are still believed to be alive. The writ of amparo can be used to compel the Armed Forces of the Philippines to reveal their internal investigation into the Burgos disappearance," said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. Burgos remains missing after his abduction by armed men in Quezon City last April 28. The military has refused to give copies of its report on the matter to the Burgos family. Burgos is the son of the late publisher Jose "Joe" Burgos, a known press freedom fighter during the Marcos regime. Reyes said Bayan is consulting with its lawyers on how to effectively avail of the writ of amparo, especially in cases where its leaders and members are under threat. He said many Bayan leaders and affiliates have been subject to various forms of harassment and persecution in what critics of the administration believe to be is a systematic campaign of repression. "We hope that by October 24, the date of implementation, we can already avail of the measure for specific cases," Reyes said. Still, he hailed the writ of amparo as a "landmark move in terms of protecting civil liberties and basic human rights." "We welcome the move by the Supreme Court and hope that the writ of amparo will serve the cause of the nearly one thousand victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances under the Arroyo regime," he said. On the other hand, he said the new measure has limits that have yet to be tested. "This is an important step in the protection of human rights. We hope that the Arroyo government would not merely snub this special legal remedy. We hope that the officers of the AFP would now stop issuing mere denials every time they are called to task for the violation of human rights," he said. - GMANews.TV