AI urges Philippine gov’t to ‘surface’ NGO member abducted’ by army men

BAGUIO CITY – Amnesty International urged the Philippine government Friday to probe and hasten efforts to “surface” James Balao, 47, a member of the Cordillera People’s Alliance who was believed abducted here by elements of the Intelligence Security Unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines last week.

This was revealed by Beverly Longid, secretary general of the Cordillera Human Rights Organization, who said they are also drafting a writ of amparo which would be filed with the proper court to make the Armed Forces of the Philippines bring out Balao.

“The Commission on Enforced Disappearances of the United Nations is also set to release a statement on the matter,” she said.

This, as the Baguio City council is set to approve tomorrow a resolution condemning Balao’s disappearance and ask proper authorities for a speedy investigation on the matter.
The CPA released a statement Thursday saying Balao was nowhere to be found on the morning of Sept. 17 around 7 a.m. after he left his residence in Fairvew, Baguio intending to go to his family residence in La Trinidad, Benguet.

He reportedly informed his family that he was going home that day through a text message at about 6:45 am. He was not able to reach home and has not been in contact with his family or friends since, nor have they been able to contact him.

In the first week of June, Balao began reporting regular surveillance to his family, which increasingly heightened until his disappearance last week.

He had often observed white and blue vans tailing him from his residence on his daily chores, the CPA said.

According to a reliable source, Balao is listed in the Armed Forces of the Philippines dossier as the head of the Communist Party of the Philippines Education Bureau in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.

Balao was a founding member of the CPA when it was established in June 1984. Even before this, James worked as research staff of the Cordillera Resource Center, then as member of the CPA’s Research and Education Commission.

He has contributed to CPA’s Research and Education work, mainly on the issues of tribal war and ancestral land.

At present, he is the president of the Oclupan Clan Association and one of his tasks is to look into the registration and documentation of the clan properties.

James was with the CPA Regional Office until 1993 then did education work for CPA chapters and networks in the provinces such as in Ifugao from 1994 to 1997, with the Ifugao Research and Development Center and later with the Ifugao Peasant Leaders Forum.

Balao graduated B.S. Psychology from the University of the Philippines Baguio in 1981. In college, he was the editor-in-chief of the Outcrop (campus newspaper).

He also worked as a research staff for the Cordillera Studies Group based in Easter School (1981-1984) then as a staff of Pons Benagen, of the 1986 Constitutional Commission on the drafting of the 1986 Constitution especially on provisions on indigenous peoples.

He is the eldest child of Arthur and Jane Balao of Atok and La Trinidad, Benguet and is the eldest of four children. He was born in Jan. 3, 1961. -- AD