BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—A Benguet judge has issued a writ of amparo for missing activist James Balao, saying that the highest government officials, including those from the military and police, were responsible for his abduction.

Balao, an activist and founder of Cordillera Alliance, was abducted by armed men believed to be soldiers in Benguet on September 17 last year.

In his order dated January 19, Judge Benigno Galacgac of the Benguet Regional Court directed the police and military officials and persons acting in their behalf to disclose where Balao is detained or confined.

Galacgac also ordered them to release Balao and to respect and protect his civil and constitutional rights and liberty.

Balao’s family filed a petition in October last year for a writ of amparo to compel the military to present the activist.