Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the alleged enforced disappearance of human rights defender James M. Balao on 17 September 2008. James M. Balao is a member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), an independent group of non-governmental organisations in the Cordillera Region. CPA works to promote democracy and protect the rights of indigenous peoples.

Further Information

On the morning of 17 September 2008, James M. Balao left Fairvew, Baguio City, intending to go to his family residence in La Trinidad, Benguet. At approximately 6.45 am., he informed his family by text message that he was going home that day. He did not reach La Trinidad and his family and associates currently have no information regarding his whereabouts. The disappearance of James M. Balao is the second case of disappearance of a CPA member, since the abduction of Ama Daniel Ngayaan in 1987.

James M. Balao had reported that he had been under surveillance since June 2008, and that the level of surveillance had intensified up to the time of his disappearance.

Reports indicate that organisations such as the CPA may have been categorised by security forces, under the Oplan Bantay Laya policy, as “sectoral fronts” of the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the New People's Army. Front Line believes that this policy may have led to the surveillance and enforced disappearance of James M. Balou.

Front Line believes that the alleged enforced disappearance of James M. Balao may be a result of his legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular his work to defend the rights of indigenous peoples in the Cordillera region of the Philippines. Front Line is concerned about the ongoing trend of harassment of human rights defenders in the Philippines and is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of James M. Balao.