The Church, indigenous peoples’ groups, human rights activists, members of Congress and regional governors have all condemned the practice of enforced disappearances. While human rights groups blame the authorities with complicity if not direct involvement in the disappearances, the government claims the “disappeared” are victims of political infighting among insurgent groups.

The human rights monitoring group Karapatan claims there were no fewer than 201 enforced disappearances between January 2001 and October 2008. The figure is contested by the authorities.

“James holds our hearts with so much respect for him. He is all so very dear to us, to our brother Winston and to our father. We love him like you love your son or brother. We miss him and want him back home. This man deserves to live,” said sister Nonette in an open plea on behalf of her family.

“Our mother is bedridden, afflicted with osteoporosis and advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease. She dearly needs the love and care of James.

“Everyone believes our mother has no inkling of what has happened to James. But she stares long and hard at the pictures of him printed on the T-shirts –then she looks away sadly, like she knows.

“Her mind may have all but forgotten memories of James. But maybe a mother’s heart never forgets,” Nonette said.

James Balao will have been missing for 200 days on April 4. Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project/Posted by (Bulatlat.com)

(The author is correspondent of the national daily Business Mirror and Northern Luzon bureau chief of the Women’s Feature Service, an independent news service.)

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