'Find missing witness in Jonas Burgos case'

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to look for a key witness in the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, political activist and the son of the late press freedom fighter Joe Burgos, in 2007.

In a five-page resolution released last week, the high court said CHR should “undertake all available measures “to obtain the affidavit of witness Virgilio Eustaquio.

It was learned that Eustaquio, chairman of the Union of the Masses for Democracy and Justice (UMDJ) has subscribed an affidavit pointing to one of the intelligence operatives who arrested him and four other supporters of former President Joseph Estrada, as the person who seized Burgos.

Eustaquio, who was among the so-called “Erap 5,” were arrested by Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines operatives in May 2006. The four others were PO3 Jose Curameng, Dennis Ibona, Jim Cabauatan and Ruben Dionisio.

The high court wanted Eustaquio’s testimony to be used in the hearing of the Court of Appeals on a habeas corpus case involving the disappearance of Burgos.

The SC directed the CHR to submit a report within 30 days with its recommendations, of its ongoing investigation of Burgos’ abduction, including Eustaquio’s affidavit.

Burgos was allegedly seized by military personnel while he was having lunch at a restaurant inside the Ever Gotesco Mall in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on April 28, 2007.