BAGUIO CITY—Relatives and friends of missing political activist James Balao lit 51 candles at the Baguio Cathedral grounds last week to offer prayers that he would be found.
The 51 candles were also meant for the 51st birthday of Balao, a founding member of the militant Cordillera Peoples Alliance, who went missing since he was taken by armed men in La Trinidad, Benguet, on Sept. 17, 2008.
“President (Benigno) Aquino (III) committed to resolve issues on human rights violations, but nothing has changed since he was elected as our leader. We want James to know that we are still here looking for him and waiting for him to surface. We will never stop seeking justice for him,” said Joni Balao Strugar, Balao’s sister.
In a letter read by Strugar, the Balao family assailed the Supreme Court for dropping former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the list of respondents in their petition for a writ of amparo.
Strugar said Arroyo should be faulted because Balao was abducted, allegedly by government soldiers, during her administration.
Balao’s name appears on the list of 205 victims of enforced disappearance during the Arroyo administration from 2001 to June 2010, according to records of human rights organizations helping the family.
“President Benigno Aquino III Aquino has not changed things. We continue to hear of those like you, who speak about social justice and indigenous peoples rights, getting arrested, killed or disappearing,” Strugar said.
Jude Baggo, secretary general of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance, said the group is studying the filing of a motion for reconsideration in court to include Arroyo and her generals in the list of respondents. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon