OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

March 12, 2008

CONTACT:

Katrina Abarcar, National Coodinator, 443-794-8836, gmawatch@yahoo.com    

         Rhonda Ramiro, Media Liaison, 415-377-2599, rramiro@gmail.com 

Politically Motivated Killings and Disappearances Concern US Congressional Representatives
Mother of Abducted Son Alerts Capitol Hill to the State of Human Rights in the Philippines

Washington DC-- Following a successful visit with United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings Philip Alston in New York, Edith Burgos, mother of abducted Filipino activist Jonas Burgos, embarked on a string of office visits with Congressional offices in Capitol Hill during the Washington DC leg of her National Speaking Tour this month.

Mrs. Burgos is traveling on her speaking tour organized and sponsored by GMA WATCH, a national grassroots advocacy network of Filipino-American and human rights organizations in the US. Burgos is also representing Desaparacidos, a national Filipino organization of families and loved ones of the disappeared in the Philippines.

 "I've come to the US to speak about Jonas in the hope that it will help me find him in the Philippines," said Mrs. Burgos.

Mrs. Burgos marked successful visits with the Congressional offices of Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), Senator John McCain(D-AZ), Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Representative Adam Smith (D-WA), Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA.), Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA.), Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and the majority staff of the House Foreign Relations Committee. She discussed with the offices how they could help her in her search for her son and the other disappeared in the Philippines.

"These visits have brought me so much hope. I did not expect the heartwarming reception I received," said Mrs. Burgos.

"Edith's story gave a clear example of how the Arroyo administration continues to be the main obstacle for victims of human rights violations seeking justice," said Katrina Abarcar, National Coordinator of GMA Watch. "The offices we met with seemed to understand this and were very concerned."

Mrs. Burgos' son, Jonas Burgos, was abducted by elements of the Philippine military in broad daylight on April 28, 2007 in a crowded mall in Quezon City. The Philippine Commission of Human Rights (CHR) has since dismissed Jonas' case despite assuring the United Nations that they would resolve the human rights crisis in the Philippines. 

Mrs. Burgos was accompanied by members of GMA Watch, human rights advocates, and church leaders. Rev. Larry Emery, Presbyterian Pastor and an associate of the Ecumenical Advocate Network on the Philippines, stated that Mrs. Burgos' visit further illustrated the need for the United States government to reassess its support for the Philippine military. "They are using the funding they receive from the USA to fight legal progressive organizations and their leaders rather than legitimate military targets. This must stop."  Rev. Emery went on encourage Filipino's around the country to make their views known to their congressional representatives who continue to vote for funding of the Philippine military.


Mrs. Burgos is set to speak in events in Seattle, San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles before returning to the Philippines this month. 

 
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