PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group yesterday declared a breakthrough in the search for Jonas Burgos after three witnesses surfaced and accused an officer of New People’s Army as the mastermind.
Downplaying the twist in the ongoing probe of her son’s disappearance four months ago, Edita said it was a mere coverup concocted by the military.
CIDG chief Edgardo Doromal led the presentation of Emerlito Lipio alias Ka Baste, Marlon Manuel alias Ka Carlo, and Melissa Concepcion Reyes alias Ka Liza.
Doromal said Burgos was known as Ka Ramon in the Bulacan Party Committee, and the party leadership was after him for pilfering and dipping his hands into the movement’s coffer amid talks that he was a military agent.
Burgos has remained missing since April 28 when he was forcibly taken by unidentified people while eating at a fast-food restaurant inside the Ever Gotesco Mall on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
Lipio and his colleagues are unaware of the victim’s whereabouts.
After the presentation at Camp Crame, the three were brought to the Department of Justice to seek protection as government witnesses.
Doromal said his office was set to file kidnapping charges against a certain Delfin de Guzman alias Ka Baste, allegedly the head of Bulacan communist party, who issued an order to “get” Burgos.
Lipio and his companions said they were at great risk in coming out to shed light on the Burgos case.
“We know that our lives are now in danger. That’s why we want to be accepted under the Witness Protection Program of the DoJ.”
Doromal said investigators located Lipio after the Bulacan Provincial Police Office reported that one of the suspects they have arrested for alleged robbery-extortion openly admitted knowing vital information over the disappearance of Burgos.
After having freed on bail, Lipio revealed that he and Manuel have received orders from De Guzman to produce Burgos alive to explain missing funds of the party.
Lipio’s confession led the police to Manuel.
The two said they saw the abduction by a certain Ka Dante and a certain Enso, who they identified as members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/ NPA Rebo–lusyunaryong Yunit Guerilla, and two others outside the mall before Burgos was shoved inside a waiting Toyota Revo van.
The third witness, Reyes said she was supposed to meet Lipio and Manuel to discuss a possible meeting with military contacts but hid upon learning Burgos had disappeared.
Police said they traced her to Norzagaray, Bulacan.