Protest march over the abduction

of Jonas Burgos, agriculturist son

of press freedom icon Joe Burgos

May 4, 2007  Updated May 8, 2007

The Burgos family leads the march from Pioneer/EDSA to the People Munument

Dr. Edith Burgos, widow of press freedom icon Joe Burgos, Sr., and mother of Jonas Joseph, Rep. Satur Ocampo and a member of the Concerned Artist of the Philippines at the march for Jonas, May 5, 2007.

"If they have a case against Jonas, the Armed Forces of the Philippines should go to court and not resort to extrajudicial measures. But what is his crime? Is it a crime to provide agricultural training to organized farmers?"

-- Rep. Satur Ocampo

The Burgos family march with friends and supporters and civil libertartians that includes BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes, Bayan Muna congressmen Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño, CAP officers Joel Garduce and Julie Po, and  RC Constantino, UP professor Jun C. Cruz and others.

Makati Major Jejomar Binay and former Press Secretary Rodolfo Reyes

NEWS RELEASE
May 1, 2007

Ocampo tells AFP: Surface Joe Burgos' son now

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo today expressed grave concern that a son of press freedom icon Joe Burgos has become the latest casualty of military-instigated abductions of social activists.

Ocampo urged the military abductors to surface Jonas Joseph Burgos who has been missing since Saturday April 28.

"If they have a case against Jonas, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines should go to court and not resort to extrajudicial
measures," said Ocampo.

"But what is his crime? Is it a crime to provide agricultural training to organized farmers?" asked Ocampo, referring to the younger Burgos' agricultural technology training for members of the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Bulacan.

The Burgos family tends a small farm also in Bulacan, and advocates organic farming practices.

According to human rights group Desaparecidos, there are now a total of 198 victims of involuntary disappearances since Mrs. Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001.

Ocampo is the principal author of a bill banning involuntary
disappearances which has been passed by the House, and is pending in the Senate. ###

Website: http://www.bayanmuna.net

► INQUIRER: Armend men seen taking Burgos son in mall

► INQUIRER: U expressses shock over Burgos abduction; 'Culture of impunity' scored

Marchers walk past the EDSA shrine to the People Munument at the next block where a program was held

Dr. Edith Burgos, mother of abducted agriculturist; and, former Sen. Rene Saguisag, member of the human rights group, MABINI

Brother writes to Jonas:

‘Have courage, this, too, shall pass’
05/07/2007 | 08:59 PM

"Ayos ang mag-ina. Matibay na hinaharap ng mag-u-utol ang sitwasyon. Bibilib ka sa husay ni Moms. Magugulat ka sa dami ng suporta. (Your wife and kid are doing fine. Your siblings are facing the problem with strength. Mom is also brave, you’ll surely admire her. You will also be surprised that you now have many supporters)."

This was part of the letter that JL wrote for his elder brother Jonas Joseph “Jayjay" Burgos, who has been missing since April 28 and believed had been abducted in a restaurant at the Ever-Gotesco Mall in Quezon City.

Just like when their father, the late veteran journalist Jose “Joe" Burgos Jr was jailed for criticizing the repressive Marcos regime, JL told Jayjay that their family remains strong in the face of another heart-wrenching trial.

“Naalala mo nung ikinulong si Erpats? ‘Di natinag ang pamilya. Ngayon sa krisis na hinaharap natin lalong di tayo matitinag (Do you remember when Papa was imprisoned? Our family remained undaunted. Now, we should all the more be unflinching in the crisis that we are facing)."

JL recalled that his brother was a bit stubborn when he was still young and that he stayed the same when he grew up – still determined, but no longer in catching dragonflies, but in pursuing his aim of helping the poor and marginalized sectors of society.

 

Huwag kang magalit na kinukwento namin sa mga kaibigan ang pagkain mo ng tutubi, ang pagiging pasaway mo nung bata ka pa. Kasi kailangan nilang malaman na tao ka at di hayop tulad ng ginawa ng mga dumukot sa ‘yo. (Don’t get angry that I tell friends that you ate dragonflies and that you were stubborn when you were young. Your abductors must know that you are a human being and should be treated as such),"
 

Jonas, an agriculture graduate of Benguet State University, had been giving agricultural technology trainings to members of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan. He had also been promoting organic farming with his family who owns a farm in the province’s San Miguel town.

JL assured his brother that in the end, his struggles shall pass and everything will turn out fine because Jonas knows very well that he is stronger than his captors.

“Mas mahusay at mas matapang ka sa mga may hawak sa ‘yo… Kung anuman ang ginagawa sa ‘yo para balewalain ang pagkatao mo ay alam mong mas tao ka kaysa sa pinapamukha nila sa ‘yo. (You are better and stronger than your abductors…What ever they do to you now to dehumanize you, you know that you are more human than what they think you are)," JL said.

“Tibayan mo ang loob mo dahil nasa tama kang paninindigan… Isa kang mabuting tao at sinisigaw namin ‘yan sa buong mundo ( Have courage because you stand up for the right cause…You are an honorable person and we shout to the world about it)," he added. - GMANews.TV

◄ Media photographers capture the scenes into the memory cards of their digital cameras to reduce the time writing about the march in words