“My thoughts, prayers, and compassion go out to the family of activist Jonas Burgos on this day that marks the 10th year of his disappearance. There is no measuring the grief and outrage all human rights advocates feel in complete sympathy with Jonas’ mother Mrs. Editha Burgos and the rest of their family. The last 10 years have passed without justice or closure, and we must continue to rely on the collective commitment of those who support and uphold the cause of desaperacidos in the Philippines to keep Jonas and the campaign for his surfacing alive in the public consciousness. This in the same way that we continue to demand that all desaperacidos be surfaced and justice meted out against those behind their disappearance.”
This was the statement of DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo on the 10th anniversary of the abduction of missing agrarian rights advocate and activist Jonas Burgos.
Sec. Taguiwalo said that last year, human rights advocates have appealed to Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to help bring about justice for the country’s missing activists and they continue to seek his attention on the same.
“We are certain that our President is aware of the appeals of the families of the desaperacidos like Jonas Burgos and is sympathetic to their grief. He listened to their appeals last year, and as they reiterate their calls, we are sure that he is listening,” she said.#
