In his homily at a Mass in Manila, Tagle warned the perpetrators that if they are afraid to face a civil court, they should be more afraid of God’s judgment.
“I’m calling on those holding Jonas and many others who are being searched by their mothers, fathers and siblings, you will face God. You must face God now,” he said in his homily, excerpts of which were posted Thursday night on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site.
Tagle led a Mass in Manila’s Quiapo district to mark the sixth year of Burgos’ disappearance.
Among those who attended the Mass were Burgos’ relatives, friends and colleagues.
“Now in this gathering we continue to pray for our brother Jonas Burgos [because] we are one with his family, his mother and his friends,” the prelate said.
Burgos was forcibly taken by armed men near a mall in Quezon City in broad daylight on April 28, 2007.
His mother Edita still believes Jonas is alive.
She welcomed Tagle’s support, which she said is a boost to their campaign against enforced disappearances and human rights abuses.
“He’s really a big help because he took time out because I know how busy he is. He is a friend from the past but I know he will do everything just to be with us, the families of desaparecidos,” she said. — BM, GMA News
