Groups insist Balao abducted by military: GMA urged: Stop political executions, disappearances

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Cause-oriented local and international groups urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo anew to “put an end to targeting and execution of many individuals working with civil society organizations.”

The Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance cited the case of CPA founding member James Balao who was believed abducted at Barangay Tomay here Sept. 17 by military intelligence agents.

In a statement, the CPA urged Ms Arroyo to sincerely implement recommendations of United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston - “As Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, the President must take concrete steps to put an end to those aspects of counterinsurgency
operations which have led to the targeting and execution of many individuals working with civil
society organizations.”

We call on the Philippine Government to observe the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and other international human rights laws and declarations such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations.”

The CPA and the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance said, “Since the Arroyo government implemented its Operation Plan Bantay Laya in 2001, members and leaders of legal and legitimate people’s organizations such as the CPA have been targeted for neutralization by agents of the state and are unjustly labeled as communist fronts and terrorist organizations.”

In a statement, they added: “Innocent lives have already been claimed as a result of this State policy of political and extrajudicial killings, and Balao is the second case of enforced disappearance to a CPA member.”

The groups urged the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to fully assist them and Balao’s family in the search for James, even as the AFP had reportedly been accusing the CPA as “sectoral fronts” of the Communist Party of the Philippines, National
Democratic Front of the Philippines and the New Peoples Army.

This, as the Army on Nov. 5 said it would “provide the necessary assistance to help locate Balao, including the use of intelligence agents to determine his whereabouts.”

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Army spokesman, said in Camp Aguinaldo they would also open their camps for inspection if the courts order them to do so.

“We would help and cooperate in the search for James Balao. If the court grants their petition for a writ of amparo, we would open our camps for inspection,” he said.

This, after members of Balao’s family, accompanied by representatives of the Commission on Human Rights and the human rights group Karapatan, failed to locate him at a military detention center in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

During the visit, Brawner said CHR representatives were able to talk to detained Army officers Capt. Dante Langkit and 1Lt. Sonny Sarmiento, who said there were no civilian prisoners being held in the facility.

Balao, 47, was last seen last Sept. 17, prompting his family to seek the help of the courts.

Meanwhile, Army chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado urged their critics to file charges in the proper tribunals if they have evidence to prove that soldiers are involved in cases of human rights abuses.

He said instead of bringing the issues to the media or other forums, it would be best to address the issue by filing cases backed by evidence.

Ibrado told the media, “Trial by publicity is unfair for an organization that does not tolerate human rights violations or other infractions committed by its personnel. If they have complaints, then they should come to us so we can address their concerns. If they have concrete evidence, then they should file the proper charges in the proper courts.”

The military has been accused of having a hand in the disappearance of activists and militant group leaders, including University of the Philippines students Sheryn Cadapan and Karen Empeno, and Jonas Burgos, son of the late freedom icon Jose “Joe” Burgos.

Meanwhile, Art Balao, the father of James wrote a letter of thanks to those who helped in the search for his son. “I wish to express my deep appreciation and thanks to all who in one way or the other contributed to find James. In behalf of my family, I thank you all so much. My family misses him and I am sure his many friends, relatives and the many people he has touched, loved and helped miss him too. Let us not lose strength in our continuing efforts to surface James. Let us not lose courage as we demand and bring to justice the perpetrators of this dastardly act.” -- AD