Isafp MIG-15 officers in Burgos kidnap named

ISAFP chief Brig. Gen. Delfin Bangit is still in denial stage. He is confident that his men and the agency were not involved with Jonas Burgos’s disappearance. Who is telling the truth?

Isafp MIG-15 officers in Burgos kidnap named

By Benjamin B. Pulta

Daily Tribune 07/10/2007

Despite denials from the chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Brig. Gen. Delfin Bangit, as well the AFP chief of staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., that no one from the Isafp and even in the AFP is into abducting citizens, the Department of Justice (DoJ) yesterday identified military intelligence officers and agents in the initial list of suspects in the abduction of activist Jonas Joseph Burgos.

An informant disclosed to the DoJ’s chief of the Task Force on Media Harassment the identities of the Isafp officers involved in the disappearance of Burgos,

In a letter, Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, task force head, yesterday ordered National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Nestor Mantaring to investigate the persons who are enlisted personnel belonging to the intelligence office of the Armed Forces.

The task force had been part of a multi-department effort initiated by the executive after the United States Congress required Palace action on the country’s appalling human rights records before releasing $2 million in military aid on top of $30 million already released by the US to the Philippine military recently.

Among those sought summoned by the DoJ are T/Sgt. Jason Roxas, Philippine Army; Cpl. Maria Joana Francisco, Philippine Air Force, and reportedly assigned

with the MIG-15 of Isafp; M/Sgt. Aron Arroyo, PAF, also assigned with the MIG 15 of Isafp; and one that goes by an alias of T.L., who also belongs to MIG 15/Isafp; 1st Lt. Jaime Mendaro, PA, assigned with the 56th Infantry Batallion; and Lt. Col. Noel Clement also of the 56th lB and presently assigned at the Escort and Security Batallion (PA) in Fort Bonifacio.

Just last week, Isafp chief General Bangit claimed before the media that there is no Isafp agent that is involved in criminal activities. He has been proved wrong with the identification by an informant of at least six persons all belonging to the Isafp, yet yesterday, he still insisted that his men are not involved in the abduction and disappearance of Burgos. He said Isafp will also be conducting its probe.

Isafp agents have also been found in the past to have engaged in more criminal activities, such wiretapping telephone calls between President Arroyo and then poll commissioner Virgilio Garci Garcillano on the 2004 poll fraud operations, to ensure her fraudulent victory through a 1 million vote lead, via the usual vote-shaving, vote-padding means.

AFP chief General Esperon also denies that his officers and men are involved in any of the abductions, disappearances and summary executions of those whom the Palace and the military brand as “enemies of the state.”

The military brass continue to claim that it is the leftists and the armed communists who are into abductions, disappearances and extra-judicial executions of these activists.

A United Nations Special Rapporteur who was tasked to conduct a fact-finding mission, found this to be a false claim, as he said military elements were involved in these political murders.

He also said that the government and its military, are in almost total denial.

Justice chief relieves Velasco from Burgos case

Military spy unit ISAFP behind Jonas Burgos abduction

‘Military behind Burgos abduction’ -- intelligence agent

By Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 10:32pm (Mla time) 07/05/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- A unit of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) was behind the abduction and continued disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos, a military intelligence agent familiar with the operation has disclosed to INQUIRER.net.

The source, who spoke on condition he not be named for his own safety, indicated that the operation to abduct Burgos appeared to have been in the works as early as October last year.

“October pa lang nababanggit na ‘yung ‘Burgos.’ Basta ang pinag-uusapan, ang sinasabi nila nakakahon na, [As early as October they [member of the unit] were already mentioning Burgos. All I can say is they were saying they had him cornered,” the source said.

However, the agent said the unit, one of the military intelligence groups (MIG) belonging to the ISAFP, appeared to have difficulty getting Burgos, a son of the late press freedom icon Jose “Joe” Burgos Jr.

“Mukhang nahirapan silang hulihin dahil ilang buwan pa ang dumaan bago nila nakuha [They apparently had a hard time capturing him because it took several months before they finally got him,” said the source.

Burgos, an agriculturist who worked as a consultant for the leftist Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Peasant Movement of the Philippines), was forcibly taken from a restaurant at the Ever Gotesco mall in Quezon City on April 28.

Suspicion immediately fell on the military after the license plate on the vehicle used by the abductors was traced to an impounded vehicle kept at the Bulacan headquarters of the Army’s 56th Infantry Battalion.

The refusal of Armed Forces chief of staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to release the report on how the license plate disappeared from the camp to the Burgos family prompted Jonas’ mother, Edita, last week to openly accuse the military of abducting her son.

Lately, Army chief Lieutenant General Romeo Tolentino has hinted that a rival faction of the mainstream communist rebel movement may have been responsible for Burgos’ abduction.

Another source, also an officer in the security forces who also requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on the matter, backed the claims of the military intelligence agent, saying all the evidence gathered in the Burgos case so far points to the military.

“In all likelihood, the involvement of the Armed Forces is relatively high,” the second source said.

He cited the artist’s sketches of two suspects in Burgos’ abduction based on descriptions provided by employees of the restaurant from where he was snatched.

The second source said he could positively identify the man and woman portrayed in the sketches as ISAFP agents.

He also confirmed that the vehicles used in the Burgos abduction -- a Revo and a Vios, both Toyota models -- were both known to be used by the MIG.

“Nung nakita ko nga yung artist sketch sa pulis, nakilala ko na talaga na sila ‘yun. Kahit pati yung sasakayan na ginamit nila alam kong yun ang ginagamit nila kapag may operasyon [When I saw the artist’s sketches with the police, I became certain it was them [ISAFP]. Even the vehicles they used I know for a fact are the same they use when they have operations],” said the source.

However, he said noting the license plates of the vehicles would not be of much use since military intelligence “are privileged” to change plate numbers for their operations.

Police describe the male suspect as around 30 to 35, 5’7” in height, dark and of medium build. The woman was described as between 22 to 27, fair-skinned and around 5’3” tall.

The military intelligence agent also confirmed the identities of the suspects, but would only give their code names, “Bajam,” and “Donna.”

He said the commander of the MIG the two belonged two is known as “Master” or “Tango Lima,” personally led the operation to snatch Burgos.

Why Jonas?

The military intelligence agent said Burgos was a likely target of the unit that snatched him because he was believed to be a member of an “education committee” of the Communist Party of the Philippines and was involved in recruiting members for the rebel movement.

The Burgos family has denied that Jonas was connected to the communist underground.

The second source, however, said that a soldier who had been arrested earlier this year for leaking information to the Left had identified Burgos as one of his contacts. This soldier, said the source, is undergoing court martial.

Dead or alive?

The military intelligence agent admitted that he had no personal knowledge of Burgos’ fate.

However, he said, based on his own operational experience, he is certain the activist has been killed.

“I am 110 percent sure he is dead,” the agent said. “In operations, a week is already too long [to keep someone alive]…he’s been missing for two months now.”

INQUIRER.net is trying to reach the Burgos family for comments but they cannot be reached as of posting time.


Editha Burgos says sketches point to military agents

Commission on Human Rights : Arroyo administration gets failing grade

Arroyo administration gets failing grade on HR

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday gave President Arroyo's administration a failing grade for its efforts to solve cases of human rights violations in the country.

On a scale of 1 to 10, CHR Chairwoman Purificacion Quisumbing gave the Arroyo administration a "less than 4."

"Ay sa implementasyon ng mga sinasabing treaties on human on rights ay talagang less than four sa ngayon. Kung 1 to 10 ay 4 ang implementation natin dito sa Pilipinas (With regard to the implementation of treaties on human rights, its score is less than four for now)," Quisumbing told ABS-CBN's "Magandang Umaga Pilipinas."

Quisumbing, meanwhile, gave her office a grade of 6.

She said CHR is not only active in investigating various cases of human rights violations, but it is also very busy raising the people's awareness about their rights.

She added that CHR is also concentrating on investigating unexplained or extrajudicial killings.

Quisumbing said her office has already filed several cases of human rights violations that have yet to be acted upon by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which serves under the Office of the President.

The CHR chairwoman said she is optimistic that DOJ will act on the cases since Mrs. Arroyo is always asked about the issue of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines during her state visits to other countries.

"Our suggestion is [for the government to open] a fast lane justice for human rights victims," she said.

Quisumbing, meanwhile, admitted that the CHR operates on a low budget, which prevents it from adding personnel.

She said CHR also needs to have prosecutorial powers as all it can do for human rights victims is investigate their complaints and recommend the filing of cases to the DOJ.

For his part, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said party-list representatives and other members of the minority in the House of Representatives have attempted to raise CHR's budget.

Casiño, however, said their attempts proved futile because human rights is among the least of the priorities of the House majority.

Quisumbing said the good thing is that the Supreme Court, based on its recent decisions, seems to be giving more attention to human rights victims.

The high court had recently absolved six activist lawmakers, including Casiño, from the rebellion cases filed against them by the government for their alleged involvement in the attempt to oust Mrs. Arroyo from office last year.

The Supreme Court had recently put up special courts for extrajudicial killings.

Activist groups on Thursday asked the high court to include in its prosecution the rising number of enforced disappearances in the country, including the abduction of agriculturist Jonas Burgos. ABS-CBN NEWS