About
The abduction of Jonas Burgos in 2007 was brazen—carried out at noon in a crowded mall. As his family launched their search, a car plate brought them face-to-face with powerful forces. Thus began their fight for justice.
Despite insurmountable barriers, anonymous informants have provided leads and even the last known photo of Jonas in captivity. At the forefront of this battle is Edita, his 80-year-old mother, and her other son, filmmaker JL Burgos.
Presented through testimonials from their lawyer, a reporter, a former Justice Secretary and Human Rights Commission Chair, and witnesses who agreed to appear on condition of anonymity, combined with animation and never-before-seen footage of the family’s relentless search, JL pieces the stories together to uncover the painful truths about his brother’s disappearance.
film stills
BEHIND THE SCENES
DIRECTOR’s statement
An overwhelming feeling came over me when I didn’t catch even a glimpse of my brother’s shadow that night. No text. No phone calls. No brother came home.
Jonas was abducted by state forces in 2007 while having lunch at a mall. It was a case of enforced disappearance and the start of the family’s nightmare.
The government defines Enforced Disappearance in Republic Act 10353 as the act of arresting, detaining, abducting, or otherwise depriving someone of their liberty by state agents or by individuals or groups acting with the approval, backing, or consent of the state.
Since the martial law of dictator Marcos Sr., about 1,912 desaparecidos remain missing to date, according to human rights group Karapatan. But how can justice prevail when the crime is committed by the very institution mandated to protect its people? Where does one even turn for answers?
This is why this documentary is very personal to me. Telling Jonas’s story is telling the story of more than a thousand victims of enforced disappearance. Our nightmare is the nightmare of every family of a desaparecido.
There are no illusions that this documentary will stop enforced disappearances, but I hope it will serve as both a step toward finding Jonas and a stride toward justice for all victims of enforced disappearance.
THE DIRECTOR
JL Burgos is an independent filmmaker and visual artist whose body of work focuses on human rights. He directed and produced two full-length documentaries: Portraits of Mosquito Press (2015) and Han-Ayan (2017).
Over the course of 25 years, Burgos has worked on short films, experimental videos, public service announcements, web series, and a TV show, serving as a director, cinematographer, editor, scriptwriter, producer, or in a combination of roles.
Burgos’s most recent projects include the Oras De Peligro movie, stage plays Tumindig Ka Aking Saksi and Salvage Eman, and music videos Ano Ang Aming Kasalanan and Pagkatapos Nito.
JL is the youngest brother of farmer-activist Jonas Burgos, who was forcibly taken by state forces. Since his brother’s abduction in 2007, JL has been raising awareness about enforced disappearances.
Burgos is also the proponent of Stop The Attacks, a campaign by artists for artists who have been victims of constant red-tagging and harassment by the state.
He is currently a board member of Surian ng Sining, a national cultural institute of artists, writers, and cultural workers.
Our Team
jl burgos
Cinematographer/Writer/Editor
bernardine de belen
Co-writer
bong ramilo
Original Music Score
Jedd Dumaguina
Sound
Ramona Nieva
Executive Producer
Ma. Cecilia Tronqued Burgos
Line Producer
Chantal Eco
Jonard Nabus
Gabriel Pancho
Mark Z. Saludes
Camera Unit
Sonny Burgos
Animation
Karl Castro
Poster Design
Grae Dela Cruz
Vynce Genica Ong
Jun Resurreccion
Production Assistants