Plate Number TAB-194, maroon Isuzu SUV model 1990

Jonas Joseph Burgos, agriculturist, trainer of affiliates of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, son of freedom-fighter Joe Burgos, Jr.. Missing for eleven days.

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          A security guard of Ever Gotesco had enough presence of mind to write down the plate number of the vehicle that was used to kidnap/ illegally arrest Jonas Joseph Burgos; and brave enough to report it to the family and then to the authorities. A maroon Isuzu sports utility vehicle 1990 model with plate number TAB-194, registered to Mauro Mudlong of San Lorenzo Village, Norzagarray, Bulacan (Inquirer, May 4, 2007).

 

 

       The CIDG is taking its goddamned sweet time tracking the paper trail of this vehicle. If J.J. Burgos had been an American citizen sojourning in the Philippines, the CIDG on presidential instruction would have completed the paper trail in 24 hours.

 

 

      Last May 7, 2007 (Monday), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair said in the show “Korina Today” (ANC) that the CIDG submitted a report to the CHR staring that they had sent operatives to the registered owner, Mauro Mudlong, in Norzagarray, and that they were informed by the registered owner that the vehicle was impounded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) last year for illegal logging.

 

 

       That means it was seized by the DENR as instrument of a criminal offense. It’s in custodia legis and is not supposed to be used by anybody.

 

 

      The CHR chair said, well, it doesn’t matter because we would hold the government responsible in their report to the UN, and hold the government to task for not signing the treaty against forcible disappearances. (She also said in another breath that she hated to say it but the victim might have been extrajudicially executed and that she wanted to include this in the conference of judges on extrajudicial killings, etc.)

 

 

        But it does matter. Because J.J. Burgos’s family and friends are still looking for him. It does matter because it is probably the one piece of evidence that can be followed.

 

 

         The completed paper trail leading to persons who have actual or constructive possession would have been enough evidence for a probable cause for the issuance of an arrest warrant; once in custody these persons can be investigated some more.

 

 

          Any person or group of persons, whether they are government employees or private individuals, who can be shown to have actual or constructive possession of the government-impounded vehicle can be charged as accomplice (any person who cooperates in the commission of an offense), or accessories (if they had no knowledge beforehand but afterwards helped conceal the vehicle or instruments of the crime).

 

 

 

         It does matter. His family and friends are still looking for him; and the matter is not to be dismissed and his case, not just to be an exhibit in some convention or conference.

 

 

         It’s fairly easy to verify whether or not it was true that the Isuzu SUV had been impounded by the government. If it were true, it only takes one hour to follow the documents, by finding out from the DENR which government employee has charge of such impounded vehicles; if it’s being used, by finding out to whom it had been MR’ed (memorandum receipt; every government employee signs a memorandum receipt for every equipment he/s he uses, even a stapler). Hell, it might even have had a trip ticket (another government document). I apologize for my language, but the CIDG is taking its goddamned sweet time; it’s been two days since they reported that it was said to have been a government-impounded vehicle, and nobody has made a move, not the CIDG, not the NBI, not the DOJ, not the police. They stopped/ delayed.

 

 

       Why? So that the criminals who seized Jonas Joseph Burgos can intercalate/ pull out the documents and cut the paper trail of the reportedly government-impounded vehicle. Goddamnit.