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Southern Tagalog. She was murdered on 21 April 2003 in naujan,
mindoro Oriental. It is alleged that elements from the military were
responsible for Eden’s murder. Since his wife’s death, Orly has
devoted his time to seeking justice for his wife and other victims
of extrajudicial killings and disappearances.
Story 82: Son of prominent journalist forcibly
abducted in public
Victim: Jonas Joseph Burgos, 38, of Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
He has one child. He was the Trainer of Alyansa ng Magbubukid
sa Bulacan (AMB or Peasants Alliance in Bulacan)
Alleged perpetrators: Unidentified men
Date of incident: 28 April 200 at 6pm
Place of incident: Mall in Quezon City
AHRC-UA-156-2007
On 28 April 2007, three persons disappeared after they were
allegedly forcibly abducted in public places. Jonas Joseph Burgos
failed to arrive at home as he was expected. he already informed
his family that he was on his way to home and that he was just
somewhere in Quezon City, by sending an SmS message. Burgos
had promised to arrive at his family’s place at 6pm. Although his
family kept sending text messages to his mobile phone to ask his
whereabouts all through the night, the family received a message
from his mobile at 10:46am on the following morning on April
29 saying: “Sensya na, ligo lang (Sorry I was just taking a bath)”.
The exchange of text messages continued with the victim’s
family trying to find out about his condition but the replies did
not make any sense. when his family called him although they
were able to speak with him, his voice sounded like he was
drugged and his answers were unclear. his family continued on
checking him through SmS messages and by calling his mobile
phone occasionally. his phone however was off from that whole
night until the following morning, April 30.
Burgos is a graduate of agriculture from the Benguet State
university. he had been giving agricultural technology training
for members of the Alyansa ng magbubukid sa Bulacan (AmB),
a chapter of the KmP for the past nine years.
The AmB and KmP are peasant organizations lobbying for the
solution of agrarian issues in Central Luzon. Prior to Burgos’
disappearance, several leaders and members of the AmB had
already been victims of either killings or abductions allegedly
committed by security forces in the past. Burgos is also the son
of the late Jose “Joe” Burgos Jr., former publisher and editor of
the we Forum and malaya newspapers. The late elder Burgos’
publication was the pioneering alternative press during the marcos
regime. The elder Burgos was an awarded journalist, a widely
known civil libertarian and defender of press freedom who died
in 2003. his son’s whereabouts remain unknown.
article 2 � June-Sept 2012 Vol. 11, No. 2-3
Orly Marcellana
Photo: Pinoy weekly
“
Since his wife’s
death, Orly has
devoted his time
to seeking justice
for his wife and
other victims of
extrajudicial killings
and disappearances.
”
Jonas Burgos
Photo: Karapatan
143