The new chief of the Intelligence Service of the AFP, who was recently promoted despite a pending case filed by the mother of missing farmer-activist Jonas Burgos against him, will join 52 other officers in a mass oath-taking before President Benigno Aquino III on Monday. Brig. Gen. Eduardo M. Año, whose confirmation is also being opposed by Edita Burgos, joins the newly-promoted generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the Rizal Hall, according to a Philippine News Agency report. The oath-taking is customary following an officer’s promotion to a star rank.
In a series of hearings on her appeal for a writ of amparo at the Court of Appeals, Edita Burgos through lawyer Boyet Fernandez had cited then Colonel Ano as one of those with direct supervision over a military team tagged by witnesses among those who abducted her son as he lunched at a restaurant in Quezon City on April 28, 2007. Despite denials by the military of any role in the abduction, subsequent investigation showed the plate number of the vehicle where Burgos was dragged into belonged to a seized utility vehicle that had been sequestered for illegal logging and had been kept for months inside a military camp. Two civilian witnesses also identified by face two of the abductors.
Mrs. Burgos said last week, on hearing of Ano’s promotion to general, that it seemed the height of irony that an officer accused of engaging in an illegal, unconstitutional act should be rewarded with a promotion---and a prime position as chief of the AFP’s intelligence office. Edita, widow of the late world press freedom icon Jose G. Burgos Jr., has served notice she will oppose his confirmation before the bicameral Commission on Appointments. The oath-taking of the controversial officer comes as preparations for the month-long observance of Human Rights Month are being stepped up.....
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