Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Another Activist Missing

PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 AT 3:43 PM
BY THE NORTHERN DISPATCH
BAGUIO CITY — Another activist has been reported missing by his family.James Balao, a member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), was reported missing since Sept. 17.
In a statement, the CPA said the family was expecting Balao's arrival that day but he never came.
"The family was informed that he had left his residence in Fairview, Baguio City at around 7:00 a.m on the said date. Since then, he, unusually, has not been in contact with his friends or members of his family; nor can they contact him," CPA said.
Balao, 47, is of medium-built, 5'7" to 5'9" tall. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, brown pants, visor, black hiking boots and eyeglasses. He was carrying a yellow and blue backpack and red traveling bag.
"He was going to spend the following days at the family residence in La Trinidad," his younger sister told CPA officers.
CPA Chairperson Beverly Longid said Balao's absence is 'very alarming.' Longid said Balao had reported regular surveillance to his family that started on the week of June and has increasingly heightened until his disappearance. "He has even observed white and blue vans that regularly tail him from his residence to his daily chores," she added.
Vio Hidalgo of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) said there have been no reported arrests named Balao since Sept. 17.
The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) said this is the first case of enforced disappearance in the Cordillera under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
Family members and friends called on the authorities, particularly the Philippine National Police, (PNP) the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the public to assist them in their search for Balao.
The CPA and the Balao family may be reached through 09175069404; the offices of the CPA (442-2115); or the CHRA (445-2586 and 09189199007) for any information about the missing activist. (Northern Dispatch/Posted by Bulatlat)

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Dear Friends,

This is an urgent call for support from the CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE, CORDILLERA HUMAN
RIGHTS ALLIANCE and the BALAO FAMILY for the campaign to SURFACE JAMES M. BALAO, member of
the CPA and a victim of enforced disappearance. James was missing since September 17, 2008. James is
the second victim of enforced disappearance in the CPA, since Ama Daniel Ngayaan was abducted in 1987.

We specifically seek your support by responding to our URGENT ALERT below. We have attached a draft Letter of Concern which we urge you to send to the Philippine government and its agencies. The addresses are provided in the URGENT ALERT.

We also urge you to sign our online petition ( http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/CPAjamesbalao/ ) which we will
later forward to the Philippine government and its agencies. In addition, statements or letters of solidarity to
Balao Family, the CPA and the CHRA are very welcome, and are very helpful.

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,
Mr. Windel Bolinget
Secretary General
CORDILLERA PEOPLES' ALLIANCE
# 2 P. Guevarra Street, West Modern Site
Aurora Hill, 2600 Baguio City, Philippines
Tel: +63-74-442-2115
Fax: +63-74-443-7159
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URGENT ALERT:
Member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Missing since September 17, 2008

Case Type: Enforced Disappearance
Victim: James M. Balao
47 Years Old, Male
Member, CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE
President, OCLUPAN CLAN ASSOCIATION
An indigenous person belonging to the Ibaloi and Kankanaey tribes of Benguet

Place of the Incident: somewhere between his residence in Fairview, Baguio City and his family
residence in La Trinidad, Benguet
Date of the Incident: 17 September, 2008
Alleged Perpetrators: unidentified elements of the Intelligence Security Unit (ISU) of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines
Account of the Incident:
On the morning of September 17, 2008 at 7 AM James Balao left his residence in Fairvew, Baguio
City, intending to go to his family residence in La Trinidad, Benguet. He 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, 2008 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.

According to a reliable source, Balao is even listed in the AFP dossier as the head of the Communist
Party of the Philippines (CPP) Education Bureau in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance believes that the surveillance and enforced disappearance of
Balao was perpetrated by state security forces as a part of their operations under Oplan Bantay Laya,
a policy of categorizing legal people's organizations and their staff and volunteers as "front
organizations" and "supporters" of the of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) or National
Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) or the New People's Army (NPA). This policy has led to
the surveillance, harassment and intimidation,abduction and killing of members an leaders of
progressive people's organizations all over the country.

Recommended Action: Your urgent response to this action alert is being sought.

Please send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:
1. The immediate surfacing and release of James Balao by his captors.
2. The authorities, particularly the Philippine National Police, to agressively assist the Balao
family, the Cordillera Peoples Alliance and the Cordillera Human Rights Aliance in their search
for James Balao.
3. The immediate termination of Oplan Bantay Laya which has labelled legal progressive
organizations such as the Cordillera Peoples Alliance as "sectoral fronts" of the Communist
Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the New Peoples
Army.
4. 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 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

You may send your communications to the addresses below. You may use the Letter of Concern
accompanying this URGENT ALERT. Thank you very much.

H.E. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON THE PEACE PROCESS
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Mobile:
Fax:+63 (2) 635 9579

SEC. GILBERTO C. TEODORO JR.
Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue
Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213

SEC. RAUL M. GONZALEZ
Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614

HON. LEILA DE LIMA
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102

ATTY. RUSSELL MA-AO
Regional Director
Commission on Human Rights – Cordillera Administrative Region
SSS Bldg., Harrison Road, Baguio City
Tel: 074 619 9089

ATTY. AMADOR P. BATAY-AN
Regional Director
NCIP-Cordillera Administrative Region
2/F Hillside Square, Km. 4, La Trinidad, Benguet Province, 2601
Tel. Fax no.: (074)422-41-73

ATTY. EUGENIO A. INSIGNE
Chairman
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
2nd Floor N. dela Merced Building,
Cor. West and Quezon Avenues,
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Telephone (63 2) 373-97-87
Telefax (63 2) 373-97-65

MAJOR LLEWELLYN R. BINASOY
Chief Research & Special Concerns Division
Assistant Chief, AFP Indigenous Peoples Affairs Desk
Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

ATTY. SEDFRY CANDELARIA
Chairperson, Government of the Republic of the Philippines Section
Joint Monitoring Committee – CARHRIHL
6/F Immaculate Conception MultiPurpose Center,
41 Lantana St., Cubao
Quezon City, Philippines

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the said government official to our address
below.

URGENT ACTION Prepared by the:
Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA)
No. 10 Rimando Road, Baguio City, 2600
Tel/Fax: 074 445-2586 cel:09189199007

Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA)
#2 P. Guevarra Street, Baguio City, 2600
Tel: 074 442 2115; fax: 074 443 7159

CORDILLERA PEOPLES' ALLIANCE
# 2 P. Guevarra Street, West Modern
Aurora Hill, 2600 Baguio City, Philippines
Tel: +63-74-442-2115
Fax: +63-74-443-7159
at

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