Last Friday, two important street events were held at the same time. One was the motorcade in Makati organized by the Women for Trillanes movement and the other one was the march for Jayjay Burgos who was abducted last Saturday (April 28) at Ever Gotesco in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.
I joined the march for Jayjay Burgos. Jayjay’s mother, Edith, led the march which was an appeal for the public to pray for Jayjay and to put pressure on the government to find the activist-farmer.
Among the prominent personalities who joined the almost three kilometer march from Pioneer corner Edsa streets in Mandaluyong to the Edsa Shrine in Quezon City were Makati Mayor Jojo Binay,Rep. Satur Ocampo and wife Bobbie, Rep. Teddy Casiño, former Press Secretary Rod Reyes,Bishop Nicanor Yñiguez, former Sen. Rene Saguisag, activist RC Constantino, Tribune columnist Herman Laurel, former Environment Secretary Fulgencio Factoran, and members of the MABINI lawyers group.
The sentiments of those in the rally is articulated by this statement Saguisag issued in behalf of his group Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism, Inc. (MABINI). Excerpts:
Thirty years ago, Joe came out with his We Forum. I fist heard about it from Sen. Gerry Roxas in mid-1977 when Sen. Eva Estrada hosted a meeting in San Juan. In time, Joe and his staff became our sukis as victims of oppression.
We have to serve two generations of human rights victims. The work is never done.
In December 1982, Colonel Rolly Abadilla & Co., raided We Forum’s office. Joe had “merely” been arrested (not “disappeared”). Feisty Edith stood her ground. Joker and I, along with others, thought it was the end for us when Rolly exploded and punched the wall in anger because she would not sign a document, on our advice. She proved tob e a tough cookie at a difficult time. She still is.
Twenty-five years later, Uncle Jovy Salonga says GMA and Esperon are today’s Marcos and Ver. A hero’s son is abducted and the response may be muted by the numbness we all seem to feel. Mr. Marcos was kinder and gentler with Joe in that he did not “disappear.”
Secretary Raul Gonzalez, an accused in the WE Forum case, used to write there. He may yet rap Jonas for being where he was abducted, at 1:00 p.m., not in some lonely mountain trail but in some crowded mall. A little irresponsible, raul? Please don’t, if only for old times’ sake.
Pastor Martin Niemoller said after WWII: When they came for the Jews, I wasn’t a Jew and I didn’t speak up. Ant they came fort he trade unionists and I wasn’t a trade unionist, and I didn’t speak up. Then they came for the Catholics, and I wasn’t a Catholic and I didn’t speak up. And then they came for me,a nd there wasn’t anyone left to speak up.”Hitlerina and Hermo, who cannot prevent or solve gross human rights violations, let our people go.
Photo captions:
1. Edith Burgos with children.
2. Former Environment Secretary Fulgencio Factora, former Press Secretary Rod Reyes, RC Constantino, Makati Mayor Jojo Binay talking with Tribune columnist Herman Laurel, former Sen. Rene Saguisag, Rep. Satur Ocampo.
3. A member of the Concerned Artist of the Philippines lead the march.
4. Herman Laurel at the Edsa Shrine.
5. The Missing Ones. The Desaparecidos.
6. Bobbi Malay with Bishop Nicanor Yñiquez.
Related story: EU chief envoy in the Philippines shocked by Burgos abduction.
kapag nagkataon, isa na namang makabuluhang nilalang ang mawawala sa listahan ng mga buhay dahil sa “pagkauhaw sa dugo” ng mga namumugad sa madilim na sulok ng malakanyang na walang hinangad kundi ang supilin at iligpit ang sa kanila ay hindi kaugnay!
si jayjay na sana ang magsilbing ninoy sa kasalukuyang panahon at ang kanyang pagdurusa (ngayon) sa kamay ng kanyang mga taga-usig at tagapahirap ay magsilbing mitsa sa damdaming unti unting nag-aalab sa paghingi ng katarungan upang ang pinipigil na at kinikimkim na ngitngit ay tuluyang pakawalan na magiging daan sa pagkakaisa ng damdamin ng bawat aping mamamayan!
I pray that there’s no harm befalling on Jayjay. They should let him go, alive. His family and country need him badly!
Walang magawa si Glue? Lintik ‘yan a! Kasi siya ang promotor o hindi niya mautusan si Assperon! Ang hostage-taker ay hostage din! Gaga!
I would have taken part in that march had I been in Manila.
I despise Gloria and her military scumbags for doing that to the Burgos family.
No government has the right to inflict such blatant mental and physical torture on any family whose only “fault” is to stand up against such despicable and worthless regime.
Me, too, I would have joined the march if I were there. Will make placards for JayJay during the meeting with Alston on May 8 at Tokyo University. Magtitirik kami ng mga kasama ko ng kandila for him. Hopefully, buhay pa siya. Kundi, rebolusyon na! PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Ellen, ingat! Dugong aso ang kalaban! Patalikod kung tumira iyan!
Anna and Yuko,
Our true intention of joining the march if we were there was enough. Kasama nila tayo sa lahat ng dasal at laban!
What’s going on in our country, general?
That question is worth remembering, Tilamsik.
That was asked by then Sen. Emmanuel Pelaez to gen. Karingal when he was ambushed.
now i know why asher dolina is now assignd in bulacan province!
he now head the group of people engaged in kidnaping,extra judicial killing of innocent civilian,he now takes over the men and women who are members of the death squad of ex gen palparan!the only way to stop this people is oust GMA and one by one we nail all this crook in hell!! GMA and his evil adviser`s and men are now really in panic!their evil leader FG is sick,not only sick but so sick for the rest of his life,that`s why he had his libel cases of journalist be defered or suspended,as if to show to the public that he is compassionate!! the truth is!! he is now in limbo..he is of no use,,good as a waste,can not even decide and think which is the left and the right!!at least, their evil leader is now as good as dead!!GMA will be ousted!! and that is final!!let us all now pray for this is the last stage of GMA and her evil minions!! after GMA, mabuhay ang pilipinas!!
Let’s pray that all is well with Jayjay! The country needs someone like him. If we pray fervently, I’m sure He will listen and pave the way to Jayjay’s freedom. After all, what we’re asking is not for our own welfare but for his family and the people Jayjay could still help in the future!
Tama ka Yuko, let’s light a candle in God’s honor for Jayjay’s safety! I’ll do mine tonight!
Yuko, Elvira,
Will join you – will light a candle and put it on my front window sill.
Anna, Yuko, Elvira,
Will join you tonight!
It is obvious that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. Tiyanak is not in control! Her military, ombudsman and all the other agencies are just doing their own thing, The chain of killings, abductions intimidation show that these agencies have their own agenda. But all these are really distractions to the most important event for the Filipinos-THE MAY 14 ELECTIONS! The chaos is just an indication that someone is stirring everything so the real modus operandi will be perpetuated. AGAIN, LET US NOT LOSE OUR FOCUS ON THE REAL THING-GUARD OUR VOTES!!! LET US NOT SUCCUMB TO THE INTIMIDATIONS!!!
I hope that Jayjay is just kept some place safe. I am praying for all the victims of this oppressive tiyanak that they toughen their resolve. SOMEONE UP THERE KNOWS WHAT WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH. THE GOOD ALWAYS PREVAILS OVER EVIL!
Thanks for all the prayers. I’ll relay it to the family. Edith beleives Jayjay is still alive. We join her is hoping and praying because every day that he doesn’t re-appear, the chances are becoming dim.
Indio, I didn’t know that asher dolina is in bulacan. I thought he is in cidg.
Ellen:
You bet, only a mother will know where her child is. I’ll pray for him at church today. Tuesday, I’ll try to go to our temple and submit JayJay’s name there. I intend to go to the temple before I go to the Alston meeting.
Today, I will make the placards. Will make photocopies of it, and send to the group. Will send pictures to you of the meeting with Alston on Tuesday. We expect thousands of human rightists to come that is why it is being conducted in open air space.
We expect likewise some Japanese media coverage. We invite Filipinos to come and join our street demonstration in front of the Philippine Embassy when the Pandak comes here this month. Mapapahiya si Pandak sa mga hapong galit na galit na sa mga kabulastugan niya!
No to ODA to the bogus government! IBASURA ANG ADMINISTRASYON! IBOTO GO 10+0!
We need more and even a million people,we need a million march to increase the pressure.Show our support to Jayjay and we need to do it everyday until they will release him.
FYI Another victims of this bogus regime:
—– Original Message —–
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2007 11:36 AM
Subject: Photos/Text: Launching the Save Luisa and Nilo Movement, Iloilo
Please visit http://www.arkibongbayan.org, or go to:
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2007-05May05-SaveLivesLN/saveluisanilo.htm
for photos and website of the campaign to save the lives of Luisa and Nilo, Iloilo human rights and Bayan activists ambushed and abducted on April 12, 2007.
Arkibong Bayan Web Team
Ellen Says:
May 5th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
That question is worth remembering, Tilamsik.
**********
The question became an article in “We Forum” (now Malaya),students were invited to a sort of literary contest using the “question” as subject. The relative news item then was the killing of Alfie Anido, the abduction Jaime Manotoc. Kaya ko naalala ang “tanong” dahil anak mismo ni Ka Joe Burgos, editor/publisher ng “We Forum”, ang nadukot ngayon. Tsk..tsk..
One the columnist of “We Forum” then was Raul Gonzales, ang tapang niyang tumira kay MArcos noon, pero ngayon lahat ng prinsipyo nya nilunok dahil naka pwesto na. Buhay nga naman.
Umiikot ang madilim na parte ng kasaysayan. Panginoon ko kailan maghahari ang liwanag sa dilim? Bakit napakalakas ng puwersa ng dimonyo sa Palasyo?
Ellen:
the car allegedly used in jayjay’s abduction was traced to 56IB. The Battalion commander of that battalion is Lt Col Clement. He was formerly the G2 of PSG under Bangit. His close association with CGPA Gen Tolentino is undeniable. When elements of 56IB were ambushed in Bulacan, Gen Tolentino did not relieve Clement from his position as a matter of policy (command responsibility). Instead, Tolentino lied that the soldiers were on rescue and relief operations when in fact they were on combat operations. Clement remained as the 56IB commander.