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“<br />
Balao mentioned<br />
to his family that<br />
he noticed blue and<br />
white van following<br />
him every day as he<br />
left his house.<br />
86<br />
”<br />
James Balao<br />
Photo: Cordillera People’s<br />
Alliance (CPA)<br />
Story 36: An activist subject to overt surveillance<br />
disappeared<br />
Victim: James M. Balao, 47, a member of the Cordillera People’s<br />
Alliance (CPA); president of the Oclupan Clan Association. He<br />
belongs to the indigenous tribes of Ibaloi and Kankanaey of<br />
Benguet<br />
Alleged perpetrators: unidentified persons<br />
Date of incident: 17 September 2008<br />
Place of incident: Between Fairview, Baguio City and in La<br />
Trinidad, Benguet<br />
AHRC-UAC-222-2008<br />
At 7am, James Balao left his place on the way to his family’s<br />
residence in La Trinidad, Benguet. Before leaving, using SmS<br />
he informed his family that he was going to La Trinidad. But he<br />
never reached his destination and could not be located by family<br />
or friends. They could not contact him anymore.<br />
Balao was last seen alive near the Tacdian Elementary School<br />
in La Trinidad. he belongs to the indigenous tribes of Ibaloi and<br />
Kankanaey of Benguet. Before he disappeared, in June 2008,<br />
Balao mentioned to his family that he noticed blue and white van<br />
following him every day as he left his house.<br />
Balao was included in a dossier of the AFP describing him as<br />
the head of the Education Bureau of the CPP in the Ilocos and<br />
Cordilleras regions. The Balao family, after having been assisted<br />
by the local human rights group and their lawyers, traveled to<br />
various headquarters of the military and the police in the province<br />
of Ilocos Sur. They hoped to find the victim in their custody, but<br />
to no avail. They went to the PA’s headquarters in Lagangilang,<br />
Abra and to the Regional Police Office in Ilocos in San Fernando<br />
City, La union, but they still could not locate Balao in any of<br />
these places.<br />
Story 37: A man falsely charged with terrorism<br />
Victim: Edgar Candule, 23; he belongs to Aeta, an indigenous<br />
tribe; detained at the Provincial Jail in Iba, Zambales<br />
Alleged perpetrators: About 20 policemen attached to the Botolan<br />
Municipal Police Station (BMPS) of the PNP)<br />
Date of his arrest: 21 March 2008 at 8am<br />
Place of incident: In Sitio Alamac, Barangay Carael, Botolan,<br />
Zambales<br />
AHRC-UAC-220-2008<br />
Edgar Candule was at the house of his friend, Patricio Domino,<br />
taking breakfast, when policemen attached to the Botolan<br />
municipal Police Station arrived. About 20 policemen, all carrying<br />
firearms and wearing full battle uniforms, entered Domino’s<br />
article 2 � June-Sept 2012 Vol. 11, No. 2-3
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