Officer in Burgos case available for arrest – Army

From InterAksyon (Oct 23): Officer in Burgos case available for arrest – Army

The Army major implicated in the 2007 abduction of farmer-activist Jonas Burgos will make himself available to authorities once police serve an arrest warrant from the court, according to Army spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang.

However, Cabangbang said, the Army has yet to receive a copy of the warrant issued by Judge Alfonso Ruiz II of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 216 in Quezon City on the charge of arbitrary detention.

Ruiz has set bail at P40,000 for Baliaga’s temporary freedom.

Cabangbang said Wednesday, “The Army will enforce the warrant once received. He (Baliaga) is currently assigned at Headquarters, Headquarters Support Group of the Philippine Army.”

In finding cause to issue the arrest order, Judge Ruiz gave credence to the testimony of one witness tagging Baliaga among the abductors of Burgos, who was eating lunch at a Quezon City restaurant on April 28, 2007 when taken by six persons, including one woman.

His family tagged military personnel in the crime after positive identification of the abductors' vehicle showed up a plate number that in turn was traced to an Army camp in Bulacan.

His mother Edita just last month continued her objection to the confirmation of Intelligence Service-AFP (ISAFP) chief Gen. Eduardo M. Ano, whom she accused of involvement in a conspiracy to abduct her son, accused by the military of being an NPA leader.

After bypassing him twice, the bicameral Commission on Appointments confirmed Ano's nomination last Sept. 4.  On that same day, the Senate and Mrs. Burgos separately received copies of a Department of Justice resolution clearing Ano and several ranking officers of any role in the abduction, and leaving only Baliaga.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/73342/officer-in-burgos-case-available-for-arrest--army