As we've been reporting in recent newsletters, co-founder of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance James Balao disappeared in September, possibly with Philippine government involvement (witnesses claim he was abducted by armed men who claimed to be police) On January 19, the investigation into his disappearance received some welcome reinforcement from the Regional Trial Court in La Trinidad, Benguet province, which ruled said that, "The police and military failed in conducting an effective investigation of James Balao's abduction," and ruled that the government must reveal Balao's whereabouts immediately. Unfortunately, the ruling doesn't allow his family to look for him in the places the government might hold him or require the government to turn over papers related to the case. It also doesn't protect witnesses who saw his abduction.
