Sunday, July 15, 2007 Palace backs exclusion of Velasco from kidnap probe
MALACAÑANG said it will not reverse the order of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. to sack prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco from the investigations on the case of Jonas Burgos, an activist leader who was allegedly abducted by military intelligence personnel.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Palace will stand pat on Gonzalez's decision despite the expression of shock from European Union officials who are monitoring developments on the Burgos case and on the extrajudicial killings.
"We will just have to respect Secretary Gonzalez's move on that particular matter," Ermita said.
Velasco was taken out of the Jonas Burgos investigation for disclosing the names of alleged members of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) who were involved in Burgos's disappearance, based on the testimony of an unidentified witness. The Isafp, however, denied the allegation.
According to the military, Velasco's ouster from the investigating body is a welcome corrective action. (JMR/Sunnex)
