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A little over a week ago, Lt. General Romeo Tolentino, gave us a glimpse of what may be on his mind. While talking to reporters, he gave information that Jonas Burgos was an NPA. He didn’t give any other information, or even why that was so important. But he didn’t give further information because as he said, “the army might be accused of bias”. But why the hell did he even blurt it out in the first place? Just the mere mention of Jonas being an NPA is bias enough. It’s been 3 months since the abduction of Jonas Burgos, the son of the late Press Freedom Hero Joe Burgos, and we are no closer to finding out his whereabouts.

But, let’s go back to General Tolentino. Although Tolentino has been a mainstay in The AFP, he has remained behind the limelight of Jovito Palparan (known as the butcher) in terms of media exposure. It wasn’t the first time I’ve heard the the name come up, Tolentino has headed major offensives during his career, including the offensive in 2002 against the Abu Sayyaf who kidnapped 4 Jehovah’s witnesses.

But I knew I’ve heard his name before. General Tolentino was the one who headed the Northern Luzon Command, the command which was also under Palparan. Palparan also headed Infantry Batallions who were allegedly behind the killings or disappearances in Central Luzon. One of those Infantry Batallions is the 56th.

Reading a recent Inquirer article will give us a little more insight,

ASKING THE WRONG PEOPLE. The search for Jonas Joseph Burgos has led this reporter to call on even those sources in the police and the military she had not talked to in years. Questions about the whereabouts of the agriculturist-activist seemed to irritate not a few of them; some were simply uneasy.

“Maybe you are asking the wrong people, maybe you are looking in the wrong places,” a senior colonel said. More than once, the Inquirer was given this unsolicited piece of advice: “Ask Tintoy.” Or, “Tell that to Tintoy.”

“Tintoy” is Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, commanding general of the Philippine Army. “Tintoy” headed the Northern Luzon Command when controversial Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan was chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division. Some of the infantry battalions (IBs) allegedly behind the killings or disappearances of militants in Central Luzon — the 24th IB, the 69th IB, the 56th IB — are under the division’s wing.

When the Inquirer pressed on, “Why Tintoy?” the sources either shrugged their shoulders or merely smiled. F. Zamora

Also, and not surprisingly General Romeo Tolentino has been involved in a Habeas Corpus court order before. Almost exactly one year ago, the Court of Appeals 12th Division also ordered Tolentino along with other generals including Jovito Palparan to produce three missing UP students.

In a petition for habeas corpus, Erlinda and Asher Cadapan and Concepcion Empeño said Sherlyn Cadapan, Karen Empeño, and Manuel Merino were allegedly taken by elements of the Philippine Army from a house in the town of Hagonoy, Bulacan province last June 26. (inquirer)

But how are these two cases related? The Burgos Case and the missing students? It seems that in both cases, the 56th Infantry Batallion based in Bulacan have been accused of the disappearances. Although, not formally accused, it just begs the question, why are they always at the center of these things?

It is becoming a bit clear that because all roads seem to point to elements in The Military, at every step the top brass, has either refused access to its investigations, fired the state prosecutor, denied any involvement, and have even gone to the point of totally excusing themselves as being suspects. As a columnist has written, they have indeed appointed themselves Judge Jury and Executioner.

But they cannot deny, that there have been too many “coincidences” in which the 56th Infantry Battalion has been involved with. And when the license plate of the alleged getaway car in the Jonas Burgos Abduction was traced to an impounded vehicle in the parking lot of the 56th Infantry based in Bulacan, they merely dismissed it as a case of stolen license plates.

But for the military top brass to start pointing fingers, when all roads are leading to their back door just puzzles me. A logical person can only conclude the following,

(1) The NPA or other militant groups are very good in making elements in the military look stupid, and they are behind the disappearance

OR

(2) These elements in the Military are stupid, don’t know how to cover up their tracks, and they are behind the disappearance of Jonas Burgos

Again, this is a case that we should all be looking at, as well as be concerned about. If indeed there are elements within the military who are involved, then they should not be able to get away with this despicable act. No one deserves to just disappear, even the guilty and the most cruel of men, have had the right to die in honor.

And so we ask, what really is the connection between Tintoy, Burgos, and the 56th Infantry Battalion?