Thursday, June 9, 2011

Edita Burgos' Affidavit Complaint against abductors of Jonas

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
MANILA

EDITA T. BURGOS,
Complainant,

-versus - I.S. NO. _____________

MAJOR HARRY A. BALIAGA, JR., LT. COL. MELQUIADES FELICIANO, COL. EDUARDO ANO, LT. GEN. ROMEO TOLENTINO (RET.), GENERAL HERMOGENES ESPERON (RET.), LT. GENERAL ALEXANDER YANO (RET.), AND DIRECTOR GENERAL AVELINO RAZON, JR.,
Respondents.
x -----------------------------------------x

AFFIDAVIT - COMPLAINT

I, EDITA T. BURGOS, Filipino, of legal age, with address c/o Fernandez & Kasilag-Villanueva Law Offices, 1203 Pablo Ocampo & Venecia Streets, Makati, after being duly sworn, hereby depose and state:

1. I am the mother of a missing person, a victim of enforced disappearance, Jonas T. Burgos, Filipino, 37 years old at the time of his abduction and a resident of Brgy. Tartaro, San Miguel, Bulacan whose photograph is attached. My son is an agriculturist by profession.

2. The Respondents are as follows:
a. Major Harry A. Baliaga Jr. is an officer of the Philippine Army. During the time of the disappearance of my son, he was assigned at the 56th Infantry Battalion. He may be served with summons and other legal processes c/o General Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
b. Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano was Major Baliaga's Commanding Officer. He may be served with summons and other legal processes c/o General Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
c. Col. Eduardo Ano was the head of the Intelligence Security Group. He may be served with summons and other legal processes c/o General Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
d. Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino (Ret.) was the Commanding General of the Philippine Army from July 2006 to August 2007. He may be served with summons and other legal processes at 202 Hermosa Bldg. Bonifacio Heights Condominium, Taguig City.
e. General Hermogenes Esperon (Ret.) may be served with summons and other legal processes at Q-44 McArthur Ave. Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila.
f. Lt. General Alexander Yano (ret) may be served with summons and other legal processes at 213 Dipolog Bldg. Bonifacio Height Condominium, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
g. Director General Avelino Razon, Jr. may be served with summons and other legal processes at No. 2010 F. Benitez St., Quirino Ave., Malate Manila.
3. I realized that Jonas could be missing when he did not come home that night of April 28, 2007.
4. The following morning, I received a text message from Jonas: “Pasensiya na ligo lang ako”; this was followed by another text: “Sige bukas pag-usapan natin”. I tried calling his phone but could not get an answer until it could no longer be reached. I knew then that something must have happened to him as it was so uncharacteristic of my son not to reply to my text messages.
5. Extremely worried and desperate for some news regarding my son's whereabouts, I called for a press conference on April 30th and announced that Jonas has been missing since April 28, 2007.
6. As a result of that press conference, I received information that a security guard at the Ever Gotesco Mall (along Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City) saw Jonas forced by persons who identified themselves to be “PULIS” into a vehicle with Plate Number TAB 194.
7. I filed a complaint before the police and later filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus (Edita Burgos vs. Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, et. al., CA-G.R. SP No. 99839) and a Petition for Writ of Amparo (Edita Burgos vs. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., et. al., CA-G.R. SP No. 0008).

THE WITNESSES

A. Elsa Agasang

8. My son Jonas, according to witnesses, was forcibly taken by a group composed of six (6) males and one (1) female on April 28, 2007 while he was having lunch at the Hapag Kainan Restaurant in Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City;

9. One of the witnesses, Elsa Agasang, was working at that restaurant at the time Jonas was having lunch and she told the police that indeed a man was forcibly taken from her restaurant on April 28, 2007. According to her, Jonas repeatedly cried “AKTIBISTA LANG PO AKO!” as he tried to fight off the persons who were abducting him.

10. When shown a photo of Jonas when she testified before the Court of Appeals, she identified Jonas as the person forcibly taken. Copy of her statement and the pertinent portion of the transcript of her testimony are attached.

B. Jeffrey T. Cabintoy

11. Another witness, Jeffrey T. Cabintoy, was working as a busboy trainee at Hapag Kainan at the time of the incident. He provided the description to the police for the cartographic sketch of 2 persons, one male and one female, who were part of the group who abducted Jonas. When shown a photo of military officers, he identified HARRY AGAGEN BALIAGA JR as one of the abductors.
12. In his statement, Mr. Cabintoy said “Ang taong ito ay aking natatandaan sa kadahilanan na nuong una siya nakaupo na katabi sa bandang kaliwa nang taong dinukot at matapos silang mas usap lumapit sa akin at pilit akong pinipigilan na wag daw makialan at ang sabi sa akin ay ‘WAG KA DITONG MAKIALAM KASI ANG TAONG ITO AY MATAGAL NA NAMING SINUSUBAYBAYAN DAHIL SA DROGA’”. The statement of Jeffrey T. Cabintoy is hereto attached. The photo of HARRY A. BALIAGA JR. is also attached.
C. Edmond Dag-Uman
13. When shown to another witness, Edmond Dag-Uman, a former soldier of the Philippine Army assigned with the 56th Infantry Battalion, the latter identified the man in the photo as LT. HARRY A. BALIAGA JR as an officer assigned with the Bravo Company of the 56th IB. The statement of Edmond Dag-Uman is hereto attached.

D. Larry Marquez

14. The name of the security guard who witnessed the abduction is Larry Marquez. He told the police that he witnessed Jonas being dragged out of the Ever Gotesco Mall and forced into a vehicle with plate number TAB 194. Copy of his statement to the police on May 1, 2007 is hereto attached.
TAB 194 was under the custody of the
56th Infantry Battalion
----------------------------------------------

15. The Plate Number TAB 194 was traced by police investigator P/Supt. Jonnel C. Estomo to a vehicle registered in the name of Mauro Mudlong. Mr. Mudlong and his vehicle were apprehended on June 24, 2006 by PFC Jose Villena and CPL Castro Bugalon of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (56th IB) based in Barangay San Mateo, Norzagaray Bulacan for violation of Section 68 of PD 705 or “Transporting of Timber Without a Permit” (filed with the Prosecutor of Bulacan at Malolos; IS No. 06-09-4287). Said vehicle with Plate No. TAB 194 and its cargo were taken to the headquarters of the 56th IB of the Philippine Army at Norzagaray Bulacan. Lt. Col. Noel S. Clement was the Commanding Officer of the 56th IB at the time.

16. Police investigators took the statements of 5 Army officers: Lt. Col. Noel S. Clement; Lt. Col. Melquiades L. Feliciano, Commanding Officer, 56th IB who succeeded Lt. Col. Clement in January but relieved in May 2007; Lt. Col. Edison Caga, Commanding Officer 69th IB stationed in Pampanga who was assigned to secure the 56th IB headquarters when it went for training in November 2006; CPL Castro Bugalon and PFC Jose Villena III both assigned at the 56th IB. Copies of their statements are attached.

17. Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano was the commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion in April 2007 at the time Jonas disappeared. When asked by investigators when and how vehicle registration Plate No. TAB 194 was taken from his battalion, he said he realized that Plate No. TAB 194 was no longer attached to the vehicle of Mudlong when the police inquired about the plate. He said the plate may have been taken by the Communist Party of the Philippines because of their “effort to infiltrate the battalion”.

Ka Ramon & the Motive for Arbitrary Detention

18. According to Col. Feliciano “there were cases of infiltration sometime in 2005 wherein two soldiers were recruited on their side and they are giving valuable information. So this is another possibility that there is insider who will take that… out and give it to the other side. We also have this lady, another infiltrator, wherein we were able to neutralize it.”

19. One of these 2 soldiers recruited by the NPA was identified as Lt. Dick Abletes. Col. Feliciano organized an investigation team to monitor Lt. Abletes after he was observed by his co-officers to have this inclination to advocate some values and practices of the Communist Party of the Philippines during conversations.

20. A part of that investigation team was the 56th IB; the other part was Intelligence Service Group (ISG) headed by Col. Eduardo Ano. The team did the monitoring and surveillance and there was one incident that Lt. Abletes “was seen face to face talking to an unidentified members, suspected members of the CPP/NPA, and he was actually overheard saying things against the organization and in fact giving classified documents” to them. According to Col. Feliciano, “he was caught transmitting information, vital information to the CPP/NPA.”

21. The classified document given by Lt. Abletes to the NPA was the Working Order of Battle.

22. One of the suspected members of the CPP/NPA Lt. Abletes was seen talking to was Melissa Concepcion Reyes. Melissa Reyes is a rebel returnee under the custody of the 56th IB. She testified before the Court of Appeals on 13 May 2008 that Lt. Dick Abletes (or “Sir Dick”) is her friend. She came to know him when she underwent tactical interrogation by the 56th IB after they returned from training sometime in January 2008. Lt. Abletes used to come and see her at the Municipal Town Hall of Norzagaray where she worked and so did other rebel returnees.

22.1 She said Lt. Abletes confided in her that he too was a student activist and intimated he was sympathetic to the rebel’s cause and was willing to help. She mentioned him to Ka Jo (Reggie de la Rosa) an alleged NPA member with whom she was in contact with. Ka Jo gave Melissa a list of questions to be answered by Lt. Abletes and Melissa gave the list to him which he answered and gave the list with his answers back to Melissa who passed it on to Ka Jo (she called this military information “package”).

22.2 On the second occasion, Ka Jo sent several questions thru text messages to Melissa and for her to forward to Lt. Abletes for answers which she did and Lt. Abletes did text back the answers.

22.3 In February 2007, Melissa met with Ka Jo in order to “endorse” Lt. Abletes to him.
22.4 On March 23, 2007, Melissa introduced JR (who was sent by Ka Jo) to Lt. Abletes. This meeting was recorded on video by the Intelligence Security Group (Lt. Col Feliciano had suspected that Lt. Abletes was sympathetic to the NPA and requested ISG to conduct surveillance on Lt. Abletes). At this meeting, Lt. Abletes according to his prosecutor, Capt. Ventayen, (Lt. Abletes is under court martial) was supposed to have given to JR a copy of the Working Order of Battle. She admitted that she was the female in the video and that the document handed over by Lt. Abletes to her companion she identified as JR to be the Order of Battle.

22.5 Three days later, on March 26, 2007, Lt. Abletes was arrested by Lt. Col. Feliciano and detained at the Philippine Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio. When Melissa testified she said that she was informed by Lt. Abletes by text sometime early April that he was sent for “schooling”.

22.6 Later that same April, Melissa was supposed to meet “with Ka Ramon and another comrade to discuss the possibility of arranging a meeting with a contact in the military” [Director General Razon affidavit, par. 4 (m)]. Melissa testified that Ka Jo told her that he will bring along a “kabarkada” whom she identified as “Mon”.

22.7 On April 28, 2007 she went to Cubao and later at the Baliwag Bus Station also somewhere in Quezon City where she met with Ka Jo. Together they went to the Ever Gotesco Mall where she waited at McDonald’s while Ka Jo went inside the mall (at the same time, Emerito Lipio and Marlon Manuel the other supposed witnesses of the police, were supposed to be waiting at Jollibee’s). After sometime, Ka Jo returned and told her to go home. She never saw or heard from Ka Jo again. She further testified that she was supposed to introduce Lt. Abletes to Ramon on April 28, 2007 at the Ever Gotesco Mall. She was not able to meet Ramon and she learned later that Ramon was abducted at that mall on that date. She further said that Jonas Burgos is the true name of Ramon.

23. In his testimony before the Court of Appeals, Col. Feliciano affirmed the fact that in the Order of Battle, the name of “Ka Ramon” is listed. Col. Feliciano corroborated the information submitted by Gen. Esperon to the CHR that Jonas Burgos has the alias of “Ramon”.
24. In my Petition For Writ of Amparo, one of the respondents was then Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon, Jr. who in his return filed with the Court of Appeals said:

“i) After being released on bail, subject Lipio was invited to CIDG Headquarters for further investigation wherein he disclosed that Jonas Burgos is a member of the CPP/NPA and is known as KA RAMON in the communist movement”.

PNP Chief Razon further mentioned in his return that -
“m) According to Ka Lisa (Melissa Concepcion Reyes), she was supposed to meet with @Ka Ramon and another comrade in the movement whom she identified only as @Ka JO in order to discuss the possibility of arranging a meeting with a contact in the military. She claimed that they were to meet at Ever Gotesco Mall at around noon time on April 28, 2007 which in effect corroborated the statements given by the two former witnesses (Emerito Lipio and Marlon Manuel). However, the meeting did not take place because Jonas Burgos did not arrive at the meeting place.”

Attached hereto is a copy of the Affidavit of PNP Chief Razon attached to his Return to the Writ.
25. The Commission on Human Rights also conducted anew an investigation on the abduction of my son. Among those whom they interviewed was Maria Vita Lozada, a member of the New People's Army since 2000 with the code name “KA MY.” She knew Jonas Burgos to have the code name “KA RAMON.” On March 2006, she became a rebel returnee and surrendered, interestingly enough, to the 56th IB, then under Lt. Col. Noel Clement.

26. Given the fact that Jonas is also known as Ramon, allegedly an NPA intelligence head in Bulacan to whom military information was given by Lt. Abletes, I believe that after Lt. Abletes was arrested, the ISG (under Col. Ano) and the 56th IB (under Col. Feliciano, which supplied plated no. TAB 194) set up Jonas for a meeting at Ever Gotesco Mall on April 28, 2007 and abducted and never to be seen again.

Arbitrary Detention
----------------------------

27. Under Article 124 of the Revised Penal Code:

“Art. 124. Arbitrary Detention. - Any public officer or employee who, without legal grounds, detains a person, shall suffer;

1. The penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period, if the detention has not exceeded three days;
2. The penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods, if the detention has continued more than three but not more than fifteen days;
3. The penalty of prision mayor, if the detention has continued for more than fifteen days but not more than six months; and
4. That of reclusion temporal, if the detention shall have exceeded six months.

28. The elements of the crime of arbitrary detention are as follows:

a. That the offenders are public officers or employees.

Respondents are all members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at the time of the incident:

 Major Harry A. Baliaga Jr. (then Lieutenant) was an officer assigned with the Bravo Company of the 56th Infantry Battalion;

 Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano was the Commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion

 Col. Edgardo Ano was the head of the Intelligence Service Group (ISG) which, together with the 56th IB, conducted the investigation that led to the arrest of Lt. Dick Abletes and thereafter the abduction of Jonas Burgos

 John Doe(s) and/or Mary Doe(s) then members of the 56th IB and/or ISG, members of the military and/or private individuals acting in concert with the other respondents.

b. That they detain a person

Jonas Joseph Burgos was kidnapped by a team directly sanctioned by Col. Feliciano and Col. Ano and comprising of members of the 56th IB and ISG under their direct control and supervision. Jonas was then illegally detained in a still undisclosed location from April 28, 2007 until the present.

 The physical restraint upon Jonas' person directly resulted in the curtailment of his liberty.

 Elsa Agasang, Larry Marquez and Jeffrey Cabintoy witnessed Jonas Burgos being forcibly taken by a group of 6 males and 1 female from the restaurant Hapag-Kainan at Ever Gotesco Mall. They witnessed the abductors dragging Jonas Burgos, against his will, from the restaurant forced him into a vehicle with Plate Number TAB 194.

 Major Harry A. Ballaga Jr. of the 56th IB was positively identified by the witness Jeffrey T. Cabintoy as one of the abductors of Jonas Burgos. He was also identified by witness Edmond Dag-Uman to be an officer then assigned at the Bravo company of the 56th IB.

c. That the detention is without legal grounds.

 Based on the testimonies of Elsa Agasang, Jeffrey T. Cabintoy and Larry Marquez, the perpetrators identified themselves to the public as “PULIS” and forcibly took Jonas Burgos. He was eating at the restaurant when the perpetrators approached him. He was not committing any crime. Instead, it appears that Jonas Burgos was kidnapped and detained on suspicion of being a member of the CPP/NPA who is included in the Order of Battle of the Philippine Army and who is purportedly the recipient of military information being passed by Lt. Dick Abletes.

 Jonas Joseph Burgos was confirmed by no less than General Esperon to be a member of the New People's Army using the alias “Ka Ramon” and whose name is included in the Order of Battle.

 Col. Feliciano and Col. Ano confirmed the conduct of a surveillance operation starting March 2007 which led to the arrest of Lt. Dick Abletes for passing military information to the CPP/NPA. Thereafter, as a continuation of the same operation, the Feliciano and Ano ordered the abduction of Jonas, believing him to be another intended recipient of the information being passed by Abletes.

 Witness Melissa Reyes is a rebel returnee under the custody of the 56th IB who confirmed that she was a friend of Lt. Abletes who “endorsed” Abletes to Ka Jo, another member of the CPP/NPA. She further confirmed that on April 28, 2007, she was supposed to introduce Lt. Abletes to Ka Ramon at the Ever Gotesco Mall but they were not able to meet. She later learned that Ramon was abducted at the mall on that same date and that Jonas Burgos is the true name of Ka Ramon.

 Verily, the kidnapping and arbitrary detention of Jonas Burgos was bereft of any legal ground. No warrant for his arrest exists that would justify his arrest and detention.

29. In the case of Benito Astorga vs. People of the Philippines, (G.R. 154130, October 1, 2003), the Supreme Court held:

“Before closing, it may not be amiss to quote the words of Justice Perfecto in his concurring opinion in Lino v. Fugoso, wherein he decried the impunity enjoyed by public officials in committing arbitrary or illegal detention, and called for the intensification of efforts towards bringing them to justice:

'The provisions of law punishing arbitrary or illegal detention committed by government officers form part of our statute books even before the advent of American sovereignty in our country. Those provisions were already in effect during the Spanish regime; they remained in effect under American rule; continued in effect under the Commonwealth. Even under the Japanese regime they were not repealed. The same provisions continue in the statute books of the free and sovereign Republic of the Philippines. This notwithstanding, and the complaints often heard of violations of said provisions, it is very seldom that prosecutions under them have been instituted due to the fact that the erring individuals happened to belong to the same government to which the prosecuting officers belong. It is high time that every one must do his duty, without fear or favor, and that prosecuting officers should not answer with cold shrugging of the shoulders the complaints of the victims of arbitrary or illegal detention.
Only by an earnest enforcement of the provisions of articles 124 and 125 of the Revised Penal Code will it be possible to reduce to its minimum such wanton trampling of personal freedom as depicted in this case. The responsible officials should be prosecuted, without prejudice to the detainees right to the indemnity to which they may be entitled for the unjustified violation of their fundamental rights.'

Obstruction of Justice

30. Under Presidential Decree No. 1829, Penalizing Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal Offenders:

“Section 1. The penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period, or a fine ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 pesos or both, shall be imposed upon any person who knowingly or wilfully obstructs, impedes, frustrates or delays the apprehension of suspects and the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases by committing any of the following acts:
x x x
(i) giving of false or fabricated information to mislead or prevent the law enforcement agencies from apprehending the offender or from protecting the life or property of the victim; or fabricating information from the data gathered in confidence by investigating authorities for purposes of background information and not for publication and publishing or disseminating the same to mislead the investigator or the court.

31. The police investigators headed by P/Supt. Jonnel Estomo took the statements of five (5) Army officers in connection with the abduction of Jonas: Lt. Col. Noel S. Clement; L. Col. Melquiades L. Feliciano, Lt. Col. Edison Caga, Cpl. Castro Bugalon; and PFC Jose Villena III. All five denied any involvement in the enforced disappearance of Jonas but none can explain why or how the license plate TAB 914, which was supposed to be in their custody, was used in the abduction. Thereafter, and despite the circumstantial evidence pointing to the members of the 56thIB as perpetrators of the kidnapping, the participation of the military was perfunctorily set aside. Instead, Estomo ended his investigation with a recommendation that appropriate charges be filed against Mauro Mudlong and the management of Hapag-Kaininan for failure to cooperate, as well as administrative charges against army officers and enlisted personnel for “infidelity of not reporting and documenting properties under their responsibility.” No further investigation of the military personnel was conducted. Attached is a copy of his report dated 25 June 2007.

32. On July 11, 2007, I filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus (CA-GR SP No. 99839) before the Supreme Court against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, Maj. Gen Juanito Gomez, Maj. Gen. Delfin Bangit, Lt. Col. Noel Clement, Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano and Director General Oscar Calderon. On December 19, 2007, I filed a Petition for Writ of Amparo (CA GR SP 00008) against Gen. Hermogenes Esperon (CS AFP), Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano (CGPA), Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. (Chief, PNP) and Dr. Purificacion Quisumbing (Chair, CHR).

33. The Respondents therein filed their respective Returns to my Petitions.

a. General Esperon. In his affidavit, Gen. Esperon merely stated “that an investigation Report was submitted to me by the Provost Marshal General on May 22, 2007 with pertinent finding that the investigation conducted cannot pinpoint with accuracy involvement of any military personnel in the abduction in the absence of direct evidence.”
However, in his testimony before the Court of Appeals, the Provost Marshal General Abadilla said that his investigation focused on the matter of Plate No. TAB 194 – how it happened that it was identified by the witness security guard Larry Marquez to be attached to the vehicle into which Jonas was forced into despite the fact that Plate No, TAB 194 was supposed to be in the custody of the 56th IB. The Provost Marshal testified that he did not investigate the case of the enforced disappearance of Jonas because he said it was the subject of a separate police investigation.

Thus, in order to forestall any further investigation to be made by the Philippine National Police on the military personnel involved, Gen. Esperon made it appear that (a) the military had already conducted its own investigation on the disappearance of Jonas; and (b) per their investigation, there is nothing to indicate with accuracy the involvement of any military personnel. In truth and in fact, however, the only investigation conducted is on the purportedly missing license plate itself.

b. General Romeo Tolentino. Gen. Tolentino was the Commanding General of the Philippine Army at the time of the disappearance of Jonas. Col. Feliciano asked help from him for the surveillance of Lt. Abletes. He ordered Col. Ano of ISG to help the 56th IB to monitor the activities of Lt. Abletes. The joint operation of the ISG under Col. Ano and 56th IB under Col. Feliciano was reported to him. I believe the abduction and detention of Jonas was also reported to him. He denied in his return and therefore lied to the Court of Appeals that the Army had custody of Jonas when in fact he knew and still knows that the ISG and 56th IB took Jonas is or was detaining him. Attached hereto is a copy of his Return filed before the Court of Appeals.

c. Lt. General Alexander Yano. Then Commanding General of the Philippines Army, Gen. Yano who succeeded Gen. Tolentino, categorically stated that “For the record, I categorically state that the Philippine Army or any of its personnel do not have or had in their custody Jonas Burgos, or had any participation in the reported abduction of Jonas Burgos.” Attached hereto is a copy of his Affidavit attached to his Return filed before the Court of Appeals.

Such a categorical statement coming from the Commander himself of the Philippine Army bore much weight. As a result of his sweeping conclusion, sans any investigation, he absolved his men from any liability despite the fact that the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos is part of the military operation on the arrest and court martial of Lt. Dick Abletes of the 56th IB. The false information was intended to mislead the police investigators and to draw attention away from the military and onto the NPA.
d. Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon. As if acting in concert with the Philippine Army, the PNP under Dir. Razon was just as quick to absolve the military. In his Affidavit attached to the Return filed before the Court of Appeals, Dir. Razon stated “the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) had transmitted to the Department of Justice the pertinent records of the investigation for its review and evaluation and possible eventual filing of appropriate charges against Delfin de Guzman et. al. for alleged kidnapping and illegal detention of Jonas Joseph Burgos. Likewise, the CIDG is coordinating with the other units of the PNP for the immediate arrest of Delfin de Guzman and his cohorts who are responsible for the kidnapping.” The PNP Chief has completely absolved the military for the crime committed despite the identification of Plate No. TAB 194 traced to the 56th IB and the connection of the arrest and court martial of Lt. Dick Abletes of the 56th IB with the disappearance of Jonas.

Attention of this Honorable Office is invited to the fact that the Department of Justice did not find probable cause to accuse Delfin De Guzman for the abduction of Jonas. In fact, Atty. Fadullon of the DOJ had specifically stated that there is no pending preliminary investigation on the disappearance of Jonas as no case had yet been referred by the PNP. Thus, the investigation of Jonas died a natural death, assuming there was any real investigation at all.

34. The foregoing acts of Generals Esperon, Tolentino, Yano and Razon constitute “obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders” as defined under Section 1(i) of Presidential Decree No. 1829. They have displayed a concerted effort to mislead and prevent a true and complete investigation into the disappearance of Jonas Burgos. They knew fully well that the disappearance of Jonas was the result of a military operation intended to flush out suspected CPP/NPA leaders who they believed to be recipients of the information being released by Lt. Dick Abletes of the 56th IB. The respondents released false information to me and to the public to mislead the investigators into formulating a story that the NPA was responsible for the disappearance of my son. Had they not coddled and protected the officers and personnel of the 56th IB and the ISG, I could have been reunited with my son who remains missing until now.

35. I therefore hold them liable for the enforced disappearance of my son. I am executing this Affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing and in support of my complaint for violation of Article 124 of the Revised Penal Code (Arbitrary Detention) or possibly Murder against:

MAJOR HARRY A. BALIAGA JR
LT.COL. MELQUIADES FELICIANO
COL. EDUARDO ANO
JOHN DOES and/or MARY DOE(s)

And complaint for violation of Presidential Decree No 1829 against:

GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON
LT. GEN. ROMEO TOLENTINO
LT. GEN. ALEXANDER B. YANO
DIR. GEN. AVELINO RAZON, JR.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I hereunto affix my signature this ___ day of June 2011.

EDITA T. BURGOS
Affiant/Complainant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this ____ day of June 2011, at Manila, Philippines.

I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY EXAMINED THE AFFIANT AND AM PERSONALLY SATISFIED THAT SHE HAS READ THE FOREGOING AFFIDAVIT AND UNDERSTOOD THE CONTENTS THEREOF.

_________________________________________
PROSECUTOR GENERAL CLARO A. ARELLANO

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ETB vs GMA petition contempt

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
COURT OF APPEALS
MANILA

EDITA T. BURGOS,
Petitioner,

- versus - CA GR No. ___________

PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON, JR., LT. GEN. ROMEO P. TOLENTINO, MAJ. GEN. JUANITO GOMEZ, LT. COL. MELQUIADES FELICIANO, LT. COL. NOEL CLEMENT ,
Respondents.
x-----------------------------------------------x

PETITION
(TO DECLARE IN CONTEMPT RESPONDENTS)

Petitioner, by undersigned counsels and before this Honorable Court respectfully alleges:

The Parties

1. Petitioner is of legal age, Filipino, with postal address c/o Fernandez & Kasilag –Villanueva Law Offices, 3/F Savana Market, Pablo Ocampo Street, Makati. She is the mother of Jonas Joseph T. Burgos. Jonas is a farmer; he manages the family farm in Bulacan. He is a member of a peasant organization in Bulacan, Alyansang Magbubukid ng Bulacan.

2. Respondents are:

a. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, holding office at and may be served with summons at Malacanang, Manila;
b. General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines holding office and may be served with summons at the General Headquarters of the AFP, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City;
c. Lt. Gen. Romeo P. Tolentino, Commanding General, Philippine Army, holding office and may be served with summons at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig;
d. Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, commanding officer, 7th Infantry Division, holding office and may be served with summons at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija;
e. Lt. Col. Noel Clement, commanding officer of, holding office and may be served with summons at the Security and Escort Battalion Fort Bonifacio Taguig;
f. Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano, former commanding officer of the 56th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, present assignment unknown but may be served with summons through the Commanding General of the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Statement of the Case

3. Petitioner initiates this petition pursuant to Rule 71 Section 4 (a new rule in the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure). According to said rule:

“Proceedings for indirect contempt may be initiated motu propio by the court against which the contempt was committed by an order or any other formal charge requiring the respondent to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt.

In all other cases, charges for indirect contempt shall be commenced by a verified petition with supporting particulars and certified true copies of documents or papers involved therein, and upon full compliance with the requirements for filing initiatory pleadings for civil actions in the court concerned. If the contempt charges arose out of or are related to a principal action pending in the court, the petition for contempt shall allege that fact but said petition shall be docketed, heard and decided separately, unless the court in its discretion orders the consolidation of the contempt charge and the principal action for joint hearing and decision”.

4. In the principal action filed by the petitioner at the Supreme Court (G.R.No. 178497/CA-G.R. SP No. 99839), a writ of habeas corpus was issued by the Supreme Court returnable to this Honorable Court of Appeals ordering herein respondents, among others, to have Jonas Joseph T. Burgos brought at the hearing held on July 27, 2007. At that hearing, herein respondents filed a common return denying that they have custody of Jonas Joseph T. Burgos. The return of respondents is false because they stated under oath in their return that they do not HAVE Jonas in their custody when in truth and in fact they HAD custody of Jonas. They had Jonas under their power when on April 28, 2007 Jonas was forced into a vehicle with plate no. TAB 194 which registration plate herein respondents admit in their return was in the custody of the 56th Infantry Battalion. Given the fact that registration plate no. TAB 194 was admitted to be in the custody of the 56th Infantry Battalion, it is reasonably presumed that the vehicle seen with the same plate is also a vehicle in the custody of the 56th Infantry Battalion.
5. Although the former commanding officers of the 56th IB, Lt. Cols. Feliciano and Clement, claim that registration plate no. TAB 194 was lost, they offered no proof of the lost – no document of loss; no explanation when it was lost, how it was lost, who lost it, where it was lost. At best, the claim of loss is self-serving and should not overcome the presumption that the vehicle seen with plate no. TAB 194 into which Jonas was forced and the persons who took him and boarded the same vehicle are connected with the 56th IB. On this basis, 56th IB of the Philippine Army HAD custody of Jonas.
6. At issue is the standard by which a return of a writ of habeas corpus is to be accepted by the court as a valid return or a false return. Is it enough for the respondents to say that they do not have custody of the person being sought? Or must the respondents state in their return that they do not have custody and have never had custody? The latter has been established as the standard by Supreme Court in the case of Martinez v Mendoza (August 17, 2006; G.R. No. 153795) cited also by the respondents in their return: “When respondents making the return of the writ state that they HAVE NEVER HAD CUSTODY over the person who is the subject of the writ, the petition must be dismissed, in the absence of definite evidence, to the contrary”. Not only must the respondents deny that they do not have custody but they must deny that they have never had custody.
7. In this case, the respondents merely stated in their return that THEY DO NOT HAVE CUSTODY of Jonas; they did not state that they have never had custody. Further, the competent and convincing evidence submitted and admitted traverse their return – the respondents HAD custody of Jonas at least when he was abducted on April 28, 2007.
8. President Arroyo did not verify the return. According to Rule 102 Section 11, the return “shall be signed by the person who makes it; and shall also be sworn to by him if the prisoner is not produced”.
9. According to Rule 102 Section 16, making or filing of a false return is punishable by contempt. President Arroyo committed contempt when she did not verify the return. The rest of the respondents committed contempt when they stated in the return that they do not HAVE custody but in truth and in fact they HAD custody of Jonas.

Statement of Facts

10. On July 11, 2007, Mrs. Edita T. Burgos filed with the Honorable Supreme Court a Petition, praying for, among others, the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus against herein named respondents.
11. On July 16, 2007 the Supreme Court resolved:

a. to ISSUE the Writ of Habeas Corpus prayed for, returnable to the Presiding Justice of Court of Appeals, Ma. Orosa, Manila, who shall IMMEDIATELY RAFFLE the case among the Justices of said Court and the Division where the Justice to whom the case is assigned shall SET the case for HEARING on 27 July 2007 at 10:00 a.m.;

b. to REQUIRE the respondents to PRODUCE the person of Jonas Joseph T. Burgos during the hearing of this case and to SHOW CAUSE why Jonas Joseph T. Burgos should not be immediately released from detention.

12. On 27 July 2007, at the scheduled hearing of the above-entitled case before the Eighth Division of the Court of Appeals, counsels for respondents appeared. None of the respondents produced Jonas Joseph T. Burgos in Court.
13. During the hearing, respondent Major General Delfin N. Bangit (Chief, ISAFP), through counsel, filed a Return to the Writ to the Court of Appeals.
14. After the hearing was adjourned that same morning of 27 July 2007, the rest of the respondents, through the Office of the Solicitor General, filed their Return to the writ to the Court of Appeals
15. The Return filed by Major General Bangit states, among others, that:
a. “Jonas Burgos was not arrested, abducted or detained by the Intelligence Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines (page 2, paragraph 2);

b. “he (Gen. Bangit) and ISAFP have no knowledge about the missing Jonas Burgos” ; and that “he (Gen. Bangit) has no personal knowledge about the alleged abduction of her son, Jonas.” (page 3, par. 4);

c. “JONAS BURGOS was neither arrested/abducted nor detained by Respondent MGEN BANGIT or ISAFP… and MGEN BANGIT and ISAFP simply do not know where Jonas Burgos may be found.” (page 5, par. 6)

16. On the other hand, the Return (not verified by President Arroyo) filed by the rest of the respondents states, among others, that:
a. “JONAS JOSEPH T. BURGOS, the person in whose behalf the present petition for habeas corpus has been filed IS NOT IN THE CUSTODY of the military or Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the police or the Philippine National Police (PNP). None of the respondents had any involvement, direct or otherwise, in his alleged abduction or disappearance. (page 3, par. 7);
b. “respondents have nothing to do with the alleged abduction/disappearance of JONAS JOSEPH T. BURGOS. Said person is NOT IN THEIR CUSTODY.” (page 8, par. 12.2);
c. “As repeatedly stated above, JONAS JOSEPH T. BURGOS is NOT IN THE CUSTODY OF THE RESPONDENTS.” (PAGE 8, PAR. 13);
d. “Respondents DO NOT HAVE IN THEIR CUSTODY JONAS JOSEPH T. BURGOS…” (page 17, par. 17)

17. Petitioner in her principal action alleged that she “received information that a security guard (Larry Marquez) at the Ever Gotesco Mall saw Jonas forced by persons who identified themselves to be “PULIS” into a vehicle with plate no. TAB 194; That plate number TAB 194 was traced to a vehicle registered in the name of Mauro Mudlong. Mr. Mudlong and his vehicle were apprehended on June 24, 2006 by PFC Jose Villena and CPL Castro Bugallon of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (56th IB) based in Barangay San Mateo, Norzagaray Bulacan for violation of Section 68 of PD 705 or “Transporting of Timber Without a Permit” (filed with the Prosecutor of Bulacan at Malolos; IS No. 06-09-4287). Said vehicle with plate no. TAB 194 and its cargo were taken to the headquarters of the 56th IB at Norzagaray Bulacan.” (paragraphs 7 & 8).
18. In the affidavit of Lt. Col. Noel S. Clement attached as Annex B to the Return, he said: “2. I read in the newspapers and watched the news on TV that a certain Jonas Joseph Burgos was illegally abducted using a Toyota Revo vehicle with plate number TAB 194; 3. Sometime in June 2006, my men in the 56th IB were able to apprehend a vehicle with the same plate number that was being used in illegal logging activities. The vehicle was in our custody because, per agreement, joint operations conducted by the PA and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regarding illegal logging activities falling within its jurisdiction will be housed in the PA during the pendency of the case involving the same vehicle”.
19. Respondents admit that registration plate number TAB 194 was in their custody. It is the same registration plate number which eye witness Larry Marquez saw attached to the vehicle into which Jonas was forced into when he was abducted at the Ever Gotesco Mall on April 28, 2007. So when Jonas was forced into the vehicle with plate number TAB 194, admitted to be in the custody of the 56th IB, it is presumed that the respondents who are all officers of the Philippine Army HAD custody of Jonas.
20. Respondents claim that they HAVE no custody of Jonas. They do not claim in their return that they HAD custody of Jonas. They could not deny that they HAD custody of Jonas because the evidence shows that they HAD custody. The Returns filed by the respondents are FALSE RETURNS, allegations therein being manifest lies, contrary to fact and evidence.
21. The respondents having executed and submitted before the Court manifestly false returns, they are in contempt of court and must be penalized for such contemptuous acts.

DISCUSSION

22. According to Rule 102 Section 16 of the Revised Rules of Court:

“Sec. 16. Penalty for refusing to issue writ, or for disobeying the same. – A clerk of court who refuses to issue the writ after allowance thereof and demand therefor, or a person to whom a writ is directed, who neglects or refuses to obey or make return of the same according to command thereof, or makes false return thereof, or who, upon demand made by or on behalf of a prisoner, refuses to deliver to the person demanding, within six (6) hours after the demand therefor, a true copy of the warrant or order of commitment, shall forfeit to the party aggrieved the sum of one thousand pesos, to be recovered in a proper action and may also be punished by the court of judge as for contempt. (emphasis supplied)

23. In reference to the foregoing, Section 7, Rule 71 of the Revised Rules of Court penalizes indirect contempt as follows:

“Sec. 7. Punishment for indirect contempt -- If the respondent is adjudged guilty of indirect committed against a Regional Trial Court or a court of equivalent or higher rank, he may be punished by a fine not exceeding thirty thousand pesos or imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months, or both. If he is adjudged guilty of contempt committed against a lower court, he may be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand pesos or imprisonment not exceeding one (1) month, or both. If the contempt consists in the violation of a writ of injunction, temporary restraining order or status quo order, he may also be ordered to make complete restitution to the party injured by such violation of the property involved or such amount as may be alleged and proved.

The writ of execution, as in ordinary civil actions, shall issue for the enforcement of a judgment imposing a fine unless the court otherwise provides.” (emphasis supplied)

24. In the case at bar, the competent and convincing evidence to prove that the respondents abducted Jonas are:

a. the statement of Elsa Agasang, restaurant employee at Hapag Kainan Ever Gotesco Mall Quezon City, who said that Jonas was forcibly taken while having is meal by 4 men and a woman who identified themselves to be police;
b. the statement of Security Guard Larry Marquez, who saw Jonas forced into a vehicle he described as a “Toyota Revo” with plate no. TAB 194;
c. Verification by the Land Transportation Office that motor vehicle (Isuzu utility vehicle) with plate no. TAB 194 is registered to Mauro B. Mudlong of Norzagaray, Bulacan;
d. Police Report of Superintendent Jonnel Stomo that: “Further interview (of Mrs. Mudlong) conducted about the plate number of the vehicle disclosed that sometime on June 24, 2006 her husband was arrested by PFC Jose Villena and CPL Castro Bugalan both personnel of 56th Infantry Battalion, 7th ID Philippine Army stationed upper Bigte, Brgy. San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan for Violations of Sec. 68 of PD 705 as amended “Transporting of Timber without permit”. Said case was filed at the Bulacan Prosecutor’s Office in Malolos Bulacan docketed under IS. No. 06-09-4287. Mrs. Mudlong further averred that the apprehending Officers mentioned above took possession and control of the [vehicle] allegedly used to transport illegal logs and it was impounded at 56th IB headquarters and still remain in their custody since seized”;
e. the refusal of Gen. Esperon to disclose the findings of the Provost Marshal.
f. The letter of Gen. Esperon to the Commission on Human Rights dated May 14, 2007, with the attached Special Report on Jonas Joseph Burgos
g. The admissions in the affidavits of LTC Feliciano and LTC Clement that license plate no. TAB 194 was in the custody of the 56th IB.

Attached hereto are copies of the foregoing documents, marked as Annexes “A” to “G” and made integral part hereof.
25. Evidence point to the fact that at one time or another, the respondents HAD custody of Jonas. The fact that the registration plate no. TAB 194 has been established to have been in the custody of the 56th IB – under LTC Clement and LTC Feliciano – creates a direct link between the abductors and the Philippine Army.
26. The issuance by General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. of the AFP’s Special Report on Jonas Burgos proves that the military has tagged Jonas as a member of the CPP-NPA, and thus establishes the motive for the abduction.
27. The refusal of Gen. Esperon to allow the submission of the Provost Marshal Report to this Honorable Court further proves that they are in possession of information vital to the family’s determination of the whereabouts of Jonas. The declarations of innocence (or ignorance?) before the Honorable Court as to the custody of Jonas directly impede, obstruct and degrade the administration of justice.

28. “In whatever context it may arise, contempt of court involves the doing of an act, or the failure to do an act, in such a manner as to create an affront to the court and the sovereign dignity with which it is clothed.” (San Luis v. Court of Appeals, 365 SCRA 279, 287 [September 13, 2001] citing People v. Godoy, 243 SCRA 64 [1995].

PRAYER

WHEREFORE premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that the Return to the Writ filed by the respondents be declared as FALSE RETURNS; the respondents be cited in contempt of court.
Other just and equitable reliefs are also prayed for.
Makati City for Manila, August 13, 2007

PACIFICO AGABIN
IBP Life No. 251
PTR No. 0385207; 1/31/07; Makati
26/F, Pacific Star Bldg.
Gil Puyat cor. Makati Ave., Makati City

Fernandez & Kasilag-Villanueva
3/F Savana Market, 1203 P. Ocampo Ext.
(formerly Vito Cruz Ext.), Makati City, 1205
Tel No. 897-1374; Fax: 897-1375

By:

RICARDO N. FERNANDEZ
Roll No. 28449
IBP No. 698564; 01-05-07; Cavite
PTR No. 0300629; 01-05-07; Makati

&

MA. VERENA KASILAG-VILLANUEVA
Roll No. 39833
IBP No. 698565; 01-05-07; Manila 2
PTR No. 0300628; 01-05-07; Makati

VERIFICATION
CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
CITY OF MAKATI ) S.S.

I, EDITA T. BURGOS, of legal age, Filipino, with postal address c/o Fernandez & Kasilag –Villanueva Law Offices, 3/F Savana Market, Pablo Ocampo Street, Makati, after having been sworn to in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that:

1. I am the Petitioner in the above-captioned case;
2. I have caused the preparation of the foregoing Petition and that the allegations contained therein are true and correct based on my own personal knowledge and on authentic records.
3. I have filed a Petition before the Supreme Court, docketed as GR. No. 178497, currently being heard by the 7th Division of the Court of Appeals under CA.G.R. SP No. 99839 involving the same personalities and issues. Aside from said case, I have not heretofore commenced any action or filed any other claim involving the same issues in any other courts, tribunals or quasi-judicial agencies and, to the best of my knowledge, no other action or claim is pending in such other court, tribunal or quasi-judicial agency; and
4. If I should learn that the same or similar action or claim has been filed or is pending, I shall report this fact within five (5) days therefrom to this Honorable Court.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this ____ day of August 2007, at Makati City.

EDITA T. BURGOS

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this ____ day of August, 2007, at Makati, affiant showing to me her CTC. No 20070425864 issued on June 21, 2007 at Quezon City.

Notary Public

Doc. No. ______
Page No. _____
Book No. _____
Series of 2007.

COPY FURNISHED:

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Malacanang, Manila

General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
General Headquarters of the AFP
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

Lt. Gen. Romeo P. Tolentino
Commanding General, Philippine Army
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez
Commanding Officer, 7th Infantry Division
Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija

Lt. Col. Noel Clement
Commanding Officer
Security and Escort Battalion
Fort Bonifacio Taguig

Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano
(former Commanding Officer of the 56th Infantry Battalion,
Philippine Army)
Commanding General, Philippine Army
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL
134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village
Makati City

Explanation
Copies of this pleading were served by registered mail only as personal service is rendered difficult due to time constraints and for lack of sufficient personnel to cause personal delivery of all the firm’s pleadings.

RICARDO N. FERNANDEZ

Edith Burgos petition

republic of the philippines
supreme court
manila

EditA T. Burgos,
Petitioner,

- versus - CASE NO. __________________

pRESIDENT gLORIA mACAPAGAL-aRROYO, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Lt. Gen. Romeo p. Tolentino, maj. gen. juanito gomez, MAJ. GEN. DELFIN BANGIT, Lt. col. Noel Clement, lt. col. melquiades feliciano, director general oscar calderon,
Respondents.
x ------------------------------------------------- x

PETITION
Petitioner, by her counsels, respectfully states:

Prefatory Statement

The petitioner has filed this petition to plead this Honorable Court to order the respondents to produce her son or release him from arbitrary detention. Should the respondents be unable to produce or release him, it is prayed that this Honorable Court will order respondents to find out who caused the enforced disappearance of her son, who ordered his abduction, to bring to justice those responsible for such crime. It is the hope of the petitioner that this Honorable Court will “promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights” (Constitution, Article VIII, Section 5 (5)] and thereby enable State institutions to enforce human rights more effectively and to prevent enforced disappearances of activists and other forms of gross violations of human rights.

The Parties

1. Petitioner is of legal age, Filipino, with postal address c/o Fernandez & Kasilag –Villanueva Law Offices, 3/F Savana Market, Pablo Ocampo Street, Makati. She is the mother of Jonas Joseph T. Burgos. Jonas is a farmer; he manages the family farm in Bulacan. He is a member of a peasant organization in Bulacan, Alyansang Magbubukid ng Bulacan.

2. Respondents are:

a. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces in the Philippines, holding office at and may be served with summons at Malacanang, Manila;
b. General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines holding office and may be served with summons at the General Headquarters of the AFP, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City;
c. Lt. Gen. Romeo P. Tolentino, Commanding General, Philippine Army, holding office and may be served with summons at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig;
d. Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, commanding officer, 7th Infantry Division, holding office and may be served with summons at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija;
e. Maj. Gen. Delfin N. Bangit, commanding officer, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), holding office and may be served with summons at ISAFP, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
f. Lt. Col. Noel Clement, commanding officer of, holding office and may be served with summons at the Security and Escort Battalion Fort Bonifacio Taguig;
g. Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano, former commanding officer of the 56th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, present assignment unknown but may be served with summons through the Commanding General of the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.
h. Director General Oscar Calderon, Philippine National Police, holding office and may be served with summons at PNP headquarters, Camp Crame Quezon City.
The Facts

3. Jonas, according to witnesses (Elsa Agasang and Larry Marquez), was forcibly taken by a group of 6 males and 1 female who identified themselves to be “PULIS” while he was having lunch at the Hapag Kainan Restaurant in Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, on April 28, 2007 at about 1.30 p.m. As he was being forcibly taken, he was shouting “Aktibista lang po ako!”
4. Petitioner realized that Jonas could be missing when he did not come home that night of April 28th. Jonas is still missing and petitioner believes that respondents are detaining him. Jonas is but the latest of hundreds of victims of enforced disappearances or desaparecidos. According to KARAPATAN, a human rights organization, there have been 180 recorded cases of desaparecidos from 2001-2007.
5. The following morning of April 29th, petitioner received a text message from Jonas which states: “Pasensiya na ligo lang ako”; this was followed by another text: “Sige bukas pag-usapan natin”. Petitioner tried calling his phone but could not get an answer until it could no longer be reached.
6. On April 30th, petitioner called for a press conference and announced that Jonas has been missing since April 28th.
7. As a result of that press conference, petitioner received information that a security guard (Larry Marquez) at the Ever Gotesco Mall saw Jonas forced by persons who identified themselves to be “PULIS” into a vehicle with plate no. TAB 194.
8. That plate number TAB 194 was traced to a vehicle registered in the name of Mauro Mudlong. Mr. Mudlong and his vehicle were apprehended on June 24, 2006 by PFC Jose Villena and CPL Castro Bugallon of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (56th IB) based in Barangay San Mateo, Norzagaray Bulacan for violation of Section 68 of PD 705 or “Transporting of Timber Without a Permit” (filed with the Prosecutor of Bulacan at Malolos; IS No. 06-09-4287). Said vehicle with plate no. TAB 194 and its cargo were taken to the headquarters of the 56th IB at Norzagaray Bulacan.
9. Police investigators took the statements of witnesses Larry Marquez (security guard) and Elsa Agasang (restaurant employee), both of whom witnessed the abduction. Attached hereto are copies of the Sinumpaang Salaysay marked as Annex A and B and made integral parts hereof.
10. Police investigators reported that they took the statements of 5 army officers, namely: LTC Melquiades L. Feliciano, commanding officer 56th IB; LTC Noel S. Clement, commanding officer Security and Escort Battalion based in Fort Bonifacio; LTC Edison Caga, commanding officer 69th IB stationed in Pampanga; CPL Castro Bugalan and PFC Jose Villena III both assigned at the 56th IB. All 5 army officers denied any involvement or participation in the enforced disappearance of Jonas.
11. The police also made cartographic sketches of the abductors as described by witnesses copies of which are attached to the police report. Attached hereto is a copy of the report of the police marked as Annex C and made an integral part hereof.
12. On May 8th, petitioner met with the Chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), Maj. Gen. Delfin N. Bangit who denied that his unit has custody of Jonas or that they abducted him. However, on July 6th, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that it was a unit of ISAFP which abducted Jonas.
13. Media reported that Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. has ordered the Army Provost Marshal and the Inspector General to investigate the involvement of the above named 5 army officers in the enforced disappearance of Jonas.
14. On May 21, 2007, petitioner through her lawyer wrote to Gen. Esperon to request for a copy of the “report of the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General on the involvement of the 56th Infantry Battalion on [Jonas’] disappearance”. This matter was followed up by another letter sent on May 29, 2007.
15. Petitioner met with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on May 29th to seek his help in finding Jonas or any information he can provide about what has happened to him. Secretary Ermita responded by arranging a meeting between petitioner and General Esperon on June 6, 2007 at 10 a.m.
16. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo phoned the petitioner on June 2nd to express her concern about Jonas and reminded her that it was important that she go see Gen. Esperon on the appointed date because it will help speed up the investigation of the enforced disappearance of Jonas.
17. Petitioner’s lawyer together with her brother, Jimmy Tronqued (petitioner had vertigo attack and could not leave the house) went to Gen. Esperon’s office at the appointed time, June 6, 2007 at 10 a.m. However, they were met by 2 officers, LTC. Jose and LTC Lucero and not Gen. Esperon, who, according to the 2 officers, had left for another meeting.
18. On June 21st, petitioner received a letter from the Judge Advocate General, Brig. Gen. Nemesio I. Dabal, writing for Gen. Esperon. The letter said that a copy of the report of the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General could not be released because of two restraints: a) it is “a classified matter, the unauthorized disclosure of which, while not endangering national security, may cause unwarranted injury to an individual. Under pertinent rules, this category of classified matter expressly includes investigation and document of a personal and disciplinary nature which we are bound to secure for administrative purposes and further to safeguard the identity of personnel being investigated for an anomaly prior to the filing of appropriate charges”; b) the “restraint is a necessary measure in order not to preempt the final outcome of the case being investigated through the premature disclosure of an initial investigation result which is taking its course under the military justice system. This is with a view to further elevation of the matter to an appropriate body for proper disposition, including its possible referral with a view to trial by court martial against erring personnel involved, if circumstances warrant”. Copy of the letter of the Judge Advocate General marked as Annex D is attached.
19. In other words, Gen. Esperon turned down petitioner’s request because he was concerned that her reading of the report of the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General “may” cause some unwarranted injury to someone (whom he has not named) and because he does not want that the “initial investigation result” of the investigation may preempt or displace the final outcome of the case being investigated.
20. On June 27th, on the 59th day of the enforced disappearance of Jonas, the petitioner held a press conference and she announced:
“Based on the evidence so far gathered: a) the testimony of the witness security guard that he saw Jonas forced into the vehicle with plate no. TAB 194; b) plate no. TAB 194 has been traced to be in the custody of the 56th IB since June 2006, I accuse the Army of having forcibly abducted my son Jonas on April 28, 2007 at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Quezon City. I strongly suspect that either or both of its former commanding officers, Lt. Col. Clement and Lt. Col. Feliciano participated in the enforced disappearance of Jonas.
The conduct of Gen. Esperon tells me that the Army is hiding from me information of vital investigative value in the Jonas case. First, he refused to see me and my representatives despite the fact that Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita had arranged the meeting and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo encouraged me to see him. And then he turns down my request for a copy of the report of the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General.
Gen. Esperon’s conduct or rather, misconduct, only reinforces my belief that the Army abducted Jonas and Gen. Esperon is covering up for the Army”.
21. On June 15th, petitioner attended the public hearing on the enforced disappearance of Jonas (case no. NCR 2007-058) called by the Commission on Human Rights wherein it was announced that CHR had concluded the public hearing and will be issuing its report in two weeks. In a letter to CHR, petitioner requested for a copy of the report and also, copies of the following documents:

a. Progress Report submitted by the police investigators;

b. Progress Report submitted by the army investigators;

c. Statements of the army officers, namely: LTC Melquiades Feliciano; LTC Noel Clement; LTC Edison Caga; PFC Jose Villena; CPL Castro Bugallon;
d. Transcript of stenographic notes (TSN) of the testimonies of LTC Clement, LTC Feliciano, LTC Caga, Gen. Delfin Bangit, PFC Villena, and CPL Bugallon;
e. Report of the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General.

22. On July 9th, Petitioner received a letter from CHR Chair Quisumbing stating that :
“ With reference to your letter dated June 20, 2007, please be informed that the Commission will provide you with the pertinent documents in the subject case, together with the official findings of the Commission, once the investigation is completed and the corresponding en banc resolution promulgated.
While the Commission is now evaluating the documents/evidence on hand, it has also considered taking the testimony of additional witnesses/ resource persons which could help shed light on the abduction of Jonas”.
23. Petitioner has met with Director Geary Barias of Task Force Usig of the Philippine National Police. She requested from him for a copy of its progress report on its investigation but he turned down the request and instead, directed her to get a copy from CHR.
24. Petitioner has not heard from the police ever since. The police investigation has not progressed from the discovery of the fact that plate no. TAB 194 identified by the security guard witness was under the custody of the 56th Infantry Battalion and the statements of the witnesses, sketches of the suspects, statements of the army officers. The police have not asked the AFP for the summary of information of the 3 colonels – their personal circumstances, service records, their assignments before and after 56th IB. They have not lined up the members of the 56th IB for possible identification of the eye witnesses. The police investigators and the army officers to be investigated are all alumni of the Philippine Military Academy and their strong sense of brotherhood restrains the police from conducting a more thorough and impartial investigation of their fellow PMA alumni in the army.
25. The petitioner has exhausted all the remedies available in the democratic institutions of the State mandated to uphold the rule of law and protect human rights but she still has not found Jonas. She has gone to ISAFP and the Chief of Staff of the AFP but they deny that they have Jonas. She reported the crime committed against Jonas to the Philippine National Police but the police have almost stopped its investigation because they have lost the initiative or the army is not cooperating or both. She sought the help of the Office of the President and the Executive Secretary has arranged for her to meet the Chief of Staff and the President has encouraged her to meet with him but still the Chief of Staff would not meet with her nor give her a copy of the report of the Provost Marshal. She has attended the public hearing of the CHR and requested for a copy of its report but she is still waiting for that report.
26. Her last resort is the constitutional branch vested with judicial power, this Honorable Supreme Court.
Human Rights of Jonas Violated

27. Jonas was born and raised in, and is a citizen of this country. His right to life and liberty is guaranteed by the Constitution. (Article III, Section 1) Those rights are sacred and are inviolable.
28. Jonas’ human rights were violated when he was abducted by suspected agents of the State on April 28th. The evidence to prove that the abductors were agents of the State are:
a. The statement of witness: Elsa Agasang, restaurant employee at Hapag Kainan Ever Gotesco Mall Quezon City, who said that Jonas was forcibly taken while having his meal by 4 men and a woman who identified themselves to be police;
b. The statement of witness: Security Guard Larry Marquez, who saw Jonas forced into a vehicle he described as a “Toyota Revo” with plate no. TAB 194;
c. Verification by the Land Transportation Office that motor vehicle (Isuzu utility vehicle) with plate no. TAB 194 is registered to Mauro B. Mudlong of Norzagaray, Bulacan;
d. Police Report of Superintendent Jonnel Estomo that: “Further interview (of Mrs. Mudlong) conducted about the plate number of the vehicle disclosed that sometime on June 24, 2006 her husband was arrested by PFC Jose Villena and CPL Castro Bugalan both personnel of 56th Infantry Battalion , 7th ID Philippine Army stationed upper Bigte, Brgy. San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan for Violations of Sec. 68 of PD 705 as amended “Transporting of Timber without permit”. Said case was filed at the Bulacan Prosecutor’s Office in Malolos Bulacan docketed under IS. No. 06-09-4287. Mrs. Mudlong further averred that the apprehending Officers mentioned above took possession and control of the [vehicle] allegedly used to transport illegal logs and it was impounded at 56th IB headquarters and still remain in their custody since seized”; and
e. The refusal of Gen. Esperon to disclose the findings of the Provost Marshal and Inspector General.
State Obligations to Jonas
29. The “State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights”. (Constitution, Article II, Section 11)
30. The commitment by the State to respect and protect the human rights of Jonas is not only between the State and Jonas as a citizen pursuant to the Constitution, but also a commitment by the State or the Republic of the Philippines to other State signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
31. “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State”. (Constitution, Article II, Section 3)
32. “The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people”. (Ibid., Section 4)
33. “The State shall take appropriate measures to investigate enforced disappearance cases committed by persons or groups of persons acting without the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State and to bring those responsible to justice.”
34. “The State shall ensure in particular that persons suspected of having committed an offense of enforced disappearance are not in a position to influence the progress of the investigations by means of pressure or acts of intimidation or reprisal aimed at the complainant, witnesses, relatives of the disappeared person or their defense counsel, or at persons participating in the investigation.”
Respondents Accountable for the Enforced Disappearance of Jonas Burgos

35. At the time of the enforced disappearance of Jonas, plate no. TAB 194 was under the custody of the 56th Infantry Battalion. When that plate was impounded together with the vehicle in June 2006, the commanding officer of the 56th IB was LTC Noel Clement. When that plate was seen by Security Guard Marquez on April 28th, the commanding officer of the 56th IB was LTC Melquiades Feliciano. Either Col. Clement took the plate with him when he was reassigned or Col. Feliciano had authorized its use in the vehicle used in the enforced disappearance of Jonas. The Provost Marshal investigated the incident and the former commanding officers of the 56th but the Chief of Staff has refused to make public the findings. These are the facts and reasonable grounds which make petitioner believe that the army in general and Colonels Clement and/or Feliciano in particular have abducted Jonas.
36. General Esperon, Maj. Gen. Bangit, Lt. Col Clement and Lt. Col Feliciano have all denied that they abducted Jonas, that they knew who abducted Jonas, or that they ordered the abduction of Jonas, or that Jonas is detained by them.
37. The police have been investigating the disappearance of Jonas but have not progressed from the discovery of the fact that plate no. TAB 194 identified by the security guard witness was under the custody of the 56th Infantry Battalion and the statements of the witnesses, sketches of the suspects, statements of the army officers. They have not been given a copy of the report of the Provost Marshal and Inspector General. The police have not asked the AFP for the summary of information of Lt. Col. Clement and Lt. Col. Feliciano– their personal circumstances, service records, their assignments before and after 56th IB. The police have not lined up the officers and men of the 56th IB for possible identification by the eye witnesses. The police investigators and the army officers to be investigated are all alumni of the Philippine Military Academy and their strong sense of brotherhood (but often misplaced as demonstrated in the investigation of the Jonas case) inhibits the police from conducting a more thorough and impartial investigation of their fellow PMA alumni in the army.
38. The report of the Provost Marshal and the Inspector General is important to determine the participation of Lt. Col. Clement and Lt. Col. Feliciano in the crime committed against Jonas and the responsibility of their superiors, Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez of the 7th Infantry Division and Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, if any, in the commission of the offense. But Gen. Esperon has prohibited its disclosure to the petitioner.
39. Agents of ISAFP headed by Maj. Gen. Bangit were reported in the PDI July 6, 2007 issue to have abducted Jonas. A copy of the PDI report is attached, marked as Annex E and made an integral part hereof.
40. The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has the duty to investigate who among the respondents have command responsibility for the enforced disappearance of Jonas Joseph T. Burgos.
41. There is no doubt that Respondents should be held accountable for the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos.
42. Respondent President Arroyo, in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the AFP, and having absolute authority over the persons and actions of the members of the Armed Forces (Gudani et al. v. Senga et al., 475 SCRA 671), should be held responsible for the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, considering that:
a. Long before the case of Jonas Burgos, a number of enforced disappearance and extra-judicial execution of political activists and militants, have been perpetrated by the military (Please see Melo Commission Report, dated January 22, 2007);
b. These killings have been reported almost daily in newspapers of general circulation more than two years before the enforced disappearance of Burgos;
c. In February, 2007, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights came to Manila to investigate the reported summary executions of activists and journalists, and he rendered a report concluding that soldiers were responsible for the extra-judicial killings, and he chastised the AFP top brass for its state of denial about the military involvement in these crimes;
d. Likewise, more recently, a team of crime experts from the European Union also came to Manila to look into these executions, and it criticized the government for the extremely poor rate of convictions in extra-judicial killings;
e. The President has not publicly condemned the enforced disappearance of Jonas; her manifest reticence is as eloquent as her praise for General Palparan at her State of the Nation address which strongly suggests her mailed fist policy against her political enemies with no regard to human rights.
43. The failure of Respondents to act to prevent summary executions of activists, students and journalists and to provide measures likely to prevent or deter extra-judicial killings as well as their failure to prosecute perpetrators of these crimes make them liable under the doctrine of “command responsibility” as defined in international and domestic law, and even under Executive Order No. 226 dated February 25, 1995 and under the Revised Administrative Code of 1987.
Prayer

WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that an order be issued to:

a. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Lt. Gen. Romeo P. Tolentino, Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, Maj. Gen. Delfin Bangit, Lt. Col. Noel Clement, Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano to produce Jonas Joseph T. Burgos and to release him from detention;
b. Director General Oscar Calderon to continue with the investigation of the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos but with vigor, diligence, thoroughness and impartiality to find Jonas, who abducted him, who ordered his abduction and to file the appropriate case or cases against the persons responsible with the proper prosecutor;
c. Gen. Esperon, Lt. Gen. Tolentino, Maj. Gen. Gomez, Maj. Gen. Bangit, Lt. Col. Clement, Lt. Col. Feliciano to make themselves available to the police for the investigation, to allow access by the police of documents, including report of the Provost Marshal and Inspector General, detention facilities and personnel relevant or required in the investigation;
d. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Commander-in-Chief to investigate who among the other respondents have command responsibility for the enforced disappearance of Jonas Joseph T. Burgos.

Petitioner prays for such other relief as may be just and equitable in the premises.

July 11, 2007 ; Makati City

PACIFICO AGABIN
IBP Life No. 251
PTR No. 0385207; 1/31/07; Makati
26/F, Pacific Star Bldg.
Gil Puyat cor. Makati Ave., Makati City

Fernandez & Kasilag-Villanueva
3/F Savana Market, 1203 P. Ocampo Ext.
(formerly Vito Cruz Ext.), Makati City, 1205
Tel No. 897-1374; Fax: 897-1375

By:

RICARDO N. FERNANDEZ
Roll No. 28449
IBP No. 698564; 01-05-07; Cavite
PTR No. 0300629; 01-05-07; Makati

&

MA. VERENA KASILAG-VILLANUEVA
Roll No. 39833
IBP No. 698565; 01-05-07; Manila 2
PTR No. 0300628; 01-05-07; Makati

VERIFICATION
CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
CITY OF MAKATI ) S.S.

I, EDITA T. BURGOS, of legal age, Filipino, with postal address c/o Fernandez & Kasilag –Villanueva Law Offices, 3/F Savana Market, Pablo Ocampo Street, Makati, after having been sworn to in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that:

1. I am the Petitioner in the above-captioned case;
2. I have caused the preparation of the foregoing Petition and that the allegations contained therein are true and correct based on my own personal knowledge and on authentic records.
3. I have not heretofore commenced any action or filed any claim involving the same issues in any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial agency and, to the best of my knowledge, no other action or claim is pending in such other court, tribunal or quasi-judicial agency; and
4. If I should learn that the same or similar action or claim has been filed or is pending, I shall report this fact within five (5) days therefrom to this Honorable Court.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this ____ day of July 2007, at Makati City.

EDITA T. BURGOS

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this ____ day of July, 2007, at Makati, affiant showing to me her CTC. No 20070425864 issued on June 21, 2007 at Quezon City.

Notary Public

Doc. No. ______
Page No. _____
Book No. _____
Series of 2007.

COPY FURNISHED:
(BY REGISTERED MAIL)

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Malacanang, Manila

General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.
General Headquarters of the AFP
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

Lt. Gen. Romeo P. Tolentino
Philippine Army,
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez
7th Infantry Division, Fort Magsaysay
Nueva Ecija

Maj. Gen. Delfin N. Bangit
Commanding Officer
Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP)
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

Lt. Col. Noel Clement
Commanding Officer, Security and Escort Battalion
Fort Bonifacio Taguig

Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano
Former commanding officer of the 56th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army
C/o Commanding General
Philippine Army
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

EXPLANATION

Copies of the foregoing Petition filed with this Honorable Court were not served personally to the respondents because the law firm does not have sufficient personnel to personally deliver said copy.

RICARDO N. FERNANDEZ

Urgent Exparte Motion

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

SUPREME COURT

MANILA

EDITA T. BURGOS,

Petitioner,

- versus - G.R. No. 183711

President Gloria Macapagal –

Arroyo, et al.

Respondents.

x ----------------------------------------------- x

EDITA T. BURGOS,

Petitioner,

- versus - G.R. No. 183712

President Gloria Macapagal –

Arroyo, et al.

Respondents.

x ----------------------------------------------- x

EDITA T. BURGOS,

Petitioner,

- versus - G.R. No. 183713

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON, JR. et al.;

Respondents.

x---------------------------------------------------x

URGENT

EX PARTE MOTION

EX ABUNDANTI CAUTELA

Petitioner, by undersigned counsel, respectfully moves this Honorable Court to refer back these cases to the Court of Appeals for further hearing of newly discovered evidence and in support thereof, respectfully states:

1. The Court of Appeals on March 18, 2013 promulgated its decision the dispositive portion of which states:

“WHEREFORE, in view of the above premises, the court hereby renders a Decision:

1) RECOGNIZING the abduction of Jonas Burgos as an enforced disappearance covered by the Rule on the Writ of Amparo;

2) With regard to authorship,

a.) DECLARING Maj. Harry A. Baliaga, Jr. RESPONSIBLE for the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos; and

b.) DECLARING the Armed Forces of the Philippines and elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Army, ACCOUNTABLE for the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos;

3) DECLARING the Philippine National Police ACCOUNTABLE for the conduct of an exhaustive investigation of the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos. To this end, the PNP through its investigative arm, the PNP-CIDG, is directed to exercise extraordinary diligence to identify and locate the abductors of Jonas Burgos who are still at large and to establish the link between the abductors of Jonas Burgos and those involved in the ERAP 5 incident.

4) DIRECTING the incumbent Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Director General of the Philippine National Police, and their successors, to ensure the continuance of their respective investigation and coordination on the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos until the persons found responsible therefor are brought before the bar of justice;

5) DIRECTING the Commission on Human Rights to continue with its own independent investigation on the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos with the same degree of diligence required under the Rule on the Writ of Amparo; and

6) DIRECTING the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Policy to extend full assistance to the Commission on Human Rights in the conduct of the latter’s investigation.

The Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Director General, Philippine National Police and the Chairman, Commission on Human Rights are hereby DIRECTED to submit a quarterly report to this Court on the results of their respective investigation.

The filing of petitioner’s Affidavit-Complaint against Maj. Harry A. Baliaga, Jr., et al. before the Department of Justice on June 9, 2011 isNOTED. Petitioner is DIRECTED to immediately inform this Court of any development regarding the outcome of that case.

The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is DISMISSED.

SO ORDERED.”

2. To recall, this Honorable Supreme Court has promulgated 2 Resolutions in these cases: 1. Dated June 22, 2010 the dispositive portion of which states:

“WHEREFORE, in the interest of justice and for the foregoing reasons, the Court RESOLVES to:

(1) DIRECT the Commission on Human Rights to conduct appropriate investigative proceedings, including field investigations – acting as the Court’s directly commissioned agency for purposes of the Rule on the Writ of Amparo - with the tasks of: (a) ascertaining the identities of the cartographic sketches of two of the abductors as well as their whereabouts; (b) determining based on records, past and present, the identities and locations of the persons identified by State Prosecutor Velasco alleged to be involved in the abduction of Jonas namely: T/Sgt. Jason Roxas (Philippine Army), Cpl. Maria Joana Francisco (Philippine Air Force), M/Sgt. Aron Arroyo (Philippine Air Force), and an alias T.L., all reportedly assigned with Military Intelligence Group 15 of Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; further proceedings and investigations, as may be necessary, should be made to pursue the lead allegedly provided by State Prosecutor Velasco on the identities of the possible abductors; (c) inquiring into the veracity of Lipio’s and Manuel’s claims that Jonas was abducted by a certain @KA DANTE and @KA ENSO of the CPP/NPA guerilla unit RYG; (d) determining based on records, past and present, as well as further investigation, the identities and whereabouts of @KA DANTE and @KA ENSO; and (e) undertaking all measures, in the investigation of the Burgos abduction, that may be necessary to live up to the extraordinary measures we require in addressing an enforced disappearance under the Rule on the Writ of Amparo;

(2) REQUIRE the incumbent Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to make available and to provide copies, to the Commission on Human Rights, of all documents and records in their possession and as the Commission on Human Rights may require, relevant to the case of Jonas Joseph T. Burgos, subject to reasonable regulations consistent with the Constitution and existing laws;

(3) DIRECT the PNP-CIDG and its incumbent Chief to submit to the Commission on Human Rights the records and results of the investigation the PNP-CIDG claimed to have forwarded to the Department of Justice, which were not included in their previous submissions to the Commission on Human Rights, including such records as the Commission on Human Rights may require, pursuant to the authority granted under this Resolution;

(4) Further DIRECT the PNP-CIDG to provide direct investigative assistance to the Commission on Human Rights as it may require, pursuant to the authority granted under this Resolution;

(5) AUTHORIZE the Commission on Human Rights to conduct a comprehensive and exhaustive investigation that extends to all aspects of the case (not limited to the specific directives as outlined above), as the extraordinary measures the case may require under the Rule on the Writ of Amparo; and

(6) REQUIRE the Commission on Human Rights to submit to this Court a Report with its recommendations, copy furnished the petitioner, the incumbent Chiefs of the AFP, the PNP and the PNP-CIDG, and all the respondents, within ninety (90) days from receipt of this Resolution.

In light of the retirement of Lt. General Alexander Yano and the reassignment of the other respondents who have all been impleaded in their official capacities, all subsequent resolutions and actions from this Court shall also be served on, and be directly enforceable by, the incumbents of the impleaded offices/units whose official action is necessary. The present respondents shall continue to be personally impleaded for purposes of the responsibilities and accountabilities they may have incurred during their incumbencies.

The dismissal of the petitions for Contempt and for the Issuance of a Writ of Amparo with respect to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is hereby AFFIRMED.

SO ORDERED”;

and, 2. Dated July 5, 2011, the dispositive portion of which states:

“WHEREFORE, in the interest of justice and for the foregoing reasons, we RESOLVE to:

I. IN G.R. NO. 183711 (HABEAS CORPUS PETITION, CA-G.R. SP No. 99839)

a. ISSUE a Writ of Habeas Corpus anew, returnable to the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals who shall immediately refer the writ to the same Division that decided the habeas corpus petition;

b. ORDER Lt. Harry A. Baliaga, Jr. impleaded in CA-G.R. SP No. 99839 and G.R. No. 183711, and REQUIRE him, together with the incumbent Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines; the incumbent Commanding General, Philippine Army; and the Commanding Officer of the 56^th IB, 7^th Infantry Division, Philippine Army at the time of the disappearance of Jonas Joseph T. Burgos, Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano, to produce the person of Jonas Joseph T. Burgos under the terms the Court of Appeals shall prescribe, and to show cause why Jonas Joseph T. burgos should not be released from detention;

c. REFER back the petition for habeas corpus to the same Division of the Court of Appeals which shall continue to hear this case after the required Returns shall have been filed and render a new decision within thirty (30) days after the case is submitted for decision; and

d. ORDER the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Commanding General of the Philippine Army to be impleaded as parties, separate from the original respondents impleaded in the petition, and the dropping or deletion of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as party-respondent.

II. IN G.R. NO. 183712 (CONTEMPT OF COURT CHARGE, CA-G.R. SP No. 100230)

e. AFFIRM the dismissal of the petitioner’s petition for contempt in CA-G.R. SP No. 100230, without prejudice to the re-filing of the contempt charge as may be warranted by the results of the subsequent CHR investigation this Court has ordered; and

f. ORDER the dropping or deletion of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as party-respondent, in light of the unconditional dismissal of the contempt charge against her.

III. IN G.R. NO. 183713 (WRIT OF AMPARO PETITION, CA-G.R. SP No. 00008-WA)

g. ORDER Lt. Harry A. Baliaga, Jr., impleaded in CA-G.R. SP No. 00008-WA and G.R. No. 183713, without prejudice to similar directives we may issue with respect to others whose identities and participation may be disclosed in future investigations and proceedings.

h. DIRECT Lt. Harry A. Baliaga, Jr., and the present Amparo respondents to file their Comments on the CHR report with the Court of Appeals, within a non-extendible period of fifteen (15) days from receipt of this Resolution.

i. REQUIRE General Roa of the Office of the Judge Advocate General, AFP; the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, JI, AFP, at the time of our June 22, 2010 Resolution; and then Chief of Staff, AFP, Gen. Ricardo David, (a) to show cause and explain to this Court, within a non-extendible period of fifteen (15) days from receipt of this Resolution, why they should not be held in contempt of this Court for their defiance of our June 22, 2010 Resolution; and (b) to submit to this Court, within a non-extendible period of fifteen (15) days from receipt of this Resolution, a copy of the documents requested by the CHR, particularly:

1) The profile and Summary of Information and pictures of T/Sgt. Jason Roxas (Philippine Army); Cpl. Maria Joana Francisco (Philippine Air Force); M/Sgt. Aron Arroyo (Philippine Air Force); an alias T.L. – all reportedly assigned with Military Intelligence Group 15 of Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines – and 2Lt. Fernando, a lady officer involved in the counter-insurgency operations of the 56^th IB in 2006 to 2007;

2) Copies of the records of the 2007 ERAP 5 incident in Kamuning Quezon City and the complete list of the intelligence operatives involved in that said covert military operation, including their respective Summary of Information and individual pictures; and

3) Complete list of the officers, women and men assigned at the 56^th and 69^th Infantry Battalion and the 7^th Infantry Division from January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007 with their respective profiles, Summary of Information and pictures; including the list of captured rebels and rebels who surrendered to the said camps and their corresponding pictures and copies of their Tactical Interrogation Reports and the cases filed against them, if any.

These documents shall be released exclusively to this Court for our examination to determine their relevance to the present case and the advisability of their public disclosure.

j. ORDER the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Commanding General of the Philippine Army to be impleaded as parties, in representation of their respective organizations, separately from the original respondents impleaded in the petition; and the dropping of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as party-respondent;

k. REFER witnesses Jeffrey T. Cabintoy and Elsa B. Agasang to the Department of Justice for admission to the Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program, subject to the requirements of Republic Act No. 6981; and

l. NOTE the criminal complaint filed by the petitioner with the DOJ which the latter may investigate and act upon on its own pursuant to Section 21 of the Rule on the Writ of Amparo.

SO ORDERED.”

3. Recently, the petitioner received from a source who has requested to remain anonymous at this point documentary evidence that would prove that an intelligence unit of the 7^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and the 56^th Infantry Battalion operating together captured Jonas Burgos on April 28, 2007 at the Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

4. The documentary evidence consists of: a. After Apprehension Report; b. Psycho Social Processing Report; and, c. Autobiography of Jonas Burgos. They are all copies of “confidential” official reports on file with the Philippine Army.

5. Petitioner is concerned about her own personal security and would avoid any premature leak of this information. The petitioner with utmost abundant caution without prior leave of this Honorable Supreme Court had taken the liberty to cause her newly discovered evidence to be sealed attached to this motion to be opened by this Honorable Supreme Court or only upon its orders. This move by the petitioner was influenced by the order of this Honorable Supreme Court in its Resolution dated July 5, 2011 requiring the submission of the complete list of the officers and men of the 56^th IB, 69^th IB and 7^th Infantry Division from June 2004 to June 2007 to this Honorable Supreme Court “exclusively”. The names in this new discovered evidence can be cross checked and validated with the list already submitted to this Honorable Supreme Court.

6. The newly discovered evidence will prove that the officers and enlisted personnel of the particular unit of the 7^th ID and the 56^th IB are responsible for the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos; that these units captured and interrogated him and based on the same evidence, could probably continue to detain him or God forbid, had disposed of him in the manner that only they could explain.

7. In the Resolution of this Honorable Supreme Court dated July 5, 2011, it was decided to “ORDER Lt. Harry A. Baliaga Jr., impleaded in a CA-G.R. SP No. 00008-WA and G.R. No. 183713, without prejudice to similar directiv4es we may issue with respect to others whose identities and participation may be disclosed in future investigations and proceedings.” Wherefore, petitioner prays for this Honorable Supreme Court to order the persons named in the sealed documents impleaded in CA-G.R. SP 00008-WA and G.R. No.183713, and to issue a writ of amparo on the same persons and refer back the cases to the same division of the Court of Appeals for further hearing and/or to issue such other orders in the interest of justice would be appropriate.

8. WHEREFORE petitioner prays of this Honorable Supreme Court to refer back the cases to the same Division of the Court of Appeals for further hearing of the newly discovered evidence and/or, to issue such other orders in the interest of justice would be appropriate.

Makati City for Manila, March 27, 2012.

Fernandez & Olivas-Gallo

3/F Savana Market, 1203 P. Ocampo Ext.

Makati City, 1205

Tel No. 897-1374; Fax: 897-1375

By:

RICARDO N. FERNANDEZ, JR.

Roll No: 28449

IBP No. 923559;1/09/2013/Cavite

PTR No.3671373; 1/02/2013; Makati

MCLE III Compliance; 3.23.2013;

UP Law Center

ROSARIO OLIVAS-GALLO

Roll No: 35188

IBP No. 923558;1/09/2013/Cavite

PTR No.3671384; 1/02/2013; Makati

MCLE III Compliance No. 0016440; 5.13.2010

NOTICE

THE CLERK OF COURT

Greetings.

Please submit the foregoing Motion for the consideration of the Honorable Court immediately upon receipt thereof without further arguments.

RICARDO N. FERNANDEZ, JR.

VERIFICATION

I, EDITA T. BURGOS, of legal age, Filipino, with address at c/o Fernandez & Olivas-Gallo, 3/F Savana Market, Vito Cruz Extension, Makati City, after having been duly sworn, hereby depose and state that:

1. I am the Petitioner in the above-captioned cases;

2. I have caused the preparation of the foregoing URGENT EX PARTE MOTION EX ABUNDANTI CAUTELA and that the allegations contained therein are true and correct based on my own personal knowledge.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this 1^st day of April 2013, at Makati.

EDITA T. BURGOS

Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 1^st day of April 2013, at Makati, affiant showing to me her valid Senior Citizen ID No. 73078 issued on February 12, 2008 at Quezon City.

Doc. No. ______

Page No. _____

Book No. _____

Series of 2013.