|
By Jomar Canlas Reporter
THE Court of Appeals on Thursday
gave the Armed Forces one week to present its report on the
investigation into the disappearance of the activist Jonas Burgos.
The Court issued the ultimatum
after its Eighth Division dismissed the motion to quash filed by
Assistant Solicitor General Amparo Tang asking for the
withdrawal of its subpoena against Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen.
Hermogenes Esperon.
The subpoena directs Esperon to
present a copy of the report submitted by the Armed Forces provost
marshal, Col. Arthur Abadilla, to Esperon.
The appellate court said the
report was crucial to allegations that the Army’s 56th Infantry
Battalion was behind the disappearance of Burgos.
It will also shed light on the
contention of the Burgos camp that the vehicle used in the alleged
abduction is the same one impounded in the headquarters of the 56th
Infantry Battalion.
Abadilla denies he has the
report, but the court said it has information that he has it.
Abadilla has until September 13
to submit the report.
Armed men abducted Burgos in a
mall in Quezon City on April 28. His family strongly believes
his abductors were military men.
Tang said the solicitor
general’s office would file a motion attesting that Abadilla does
not have the report.
The Eighth Division is made up of
Justice Remedios Salazar-Fernando as chairman, with Justices
Rosalinda Asuncion-Vicente and Enrico Lanzanas as members.
Investigated by the National
Bureau of Investigation in connection with the Burgos disappearance
were Army T/Sgt. Jason Roxas; Air Force Cpl. Maria Joana Francisco,
assigned with the MIG-15 of the Intelligence Service of the AFP; Air
Force Master Sgt. Aron Arroyo, also assigned with MIG 15, Isafp;
Army First Lt. Jaime Mendaro, assigned with the 56th IB; Lt. Col.
Noel Clement, commander of the Security and Escort Battalion in Fort
Bonifacio; and a certain “TL,” also assigned with MIG-15.
|
