Guingona joins clamor for release of Jonas

Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona on Friday joined the clamor for the release of Jonas Joseph Burgos whom his family and militant groups believe are being kept under custody by government security forces. Joining a protest rally of militant groups in front of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Guingona sounded convinced that Burgos, along with two other companions, are under being held by the military "by all indications." "Hustisya para sa lahat…palayain si Jonas na biktima ng abduction (Justice for all...release Jonas who is a victim of abduction)," Guingona told the crowd of about 50 militants. The former vice president was accompanied by Edith Burgos, the mother of Jonas. Jonas is a son of the late Jose "Joe" Burgos, a staunch fighter for press freedom during the reign of former strongman Ferdinand Marcos. Former President Corazon Aquino had earlier called on the government to assist in the search for Jonas. Prior to Guingona’s arrival, members of Anakpawis, Kilusang Magbubukid gn Pilipinas and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) trooped to the military headquarters along with other members of the Burgos family to press for the release of Jonas. "Our first purpose here is to demand the release of the Provost Marshall report and second, is for the AFP to open its facilities like safehouses so they could release Jonas," said JL Burgos, younger brother of the victim. Jonas was seized April 28 along with his two companions inside a shopping mall in Quezon City by unidentified armed men. Until his disappearance, Jonas was training farmers in the provinces allied with the KMP on agriculture technology. JL maintained that the Burgos family is convinced his brother is with the military since the evidence points to the 56th Infantry Battalion based in Bulacan, referring to the license plates used in the car that took Burgos. The plates were traced to a vehicle impounded inside a local military camp in Norzagaray town. As in previous incidents when militant groups are staging protest actions in front of Camp Aguinaldo, the Armed Forces played disco novelty music through loud speakers near the gate where the rallyists are located. "It’s sad. We are a family looking for our family member, and yet, they give us that kind of response," JL lamented. - GMANews.TV