They all went missing in recent times and in different parts of the country, but one thing remains common: no one is yet is held responsible for their disappearance even at a time when human rights organizations here and abroad continue to press on the Philippine government to resolve cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and abductions.

For their families and friends, the search continues as days turns to weeks, months and years amid uncertainty.

Here are brief updates on selected cases as of March 30, 2009:

JAMES BALAO

Photo courtesy of Cordillera Peoples Alliance

The regional trial court ordered the respondents (President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Alexander Yano, and Philippine National Police Director Gen. Jesus Versoza among others) to “a) disclose where James Balao is detained or confined, b) to release James Balao considering his unlawful detention since his abduction, c) to cease and desist from further inflicting harm upon his person and d) respect and protect his civil and constitutional rights and liberty.”

James, 47, disappeared on September 17, 2008 in Lower Tomay, La Trinidad, Benguet near Baguio City. Eyewitnesses claimed he was abducted by five men in civilian clothes who jumped out of a Toyota Revo or Mitsubishi Adventure van and handcuffed him as he was making his way home. At least one of the men was said to be armed with an Armalite rifle. Reports claim James’ abductees told onlookers he was ‘a drug pusher’ and was being taken to Camp Dangwa, the regional headquarters of the PNP. The police deny responsibility for his abduction.

Click here to read the Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project’s recent report on James.

JONAS BURGOS

Photo courtesy of Free Jonas Burgos Movement

The family awaits the Supreme Court to act on their appeal to reconsider the Court of Appeals’ July 2008 decision against granting them a writ of amparo. The appellate court said petitioner Edita Burgos, mother of Jonas, had failed to show the military was behind the abduction of her son and that her evidence was either possibly fabricated or hearsay.

The Supreme Court is also reviewing their appeal on the Court of Appeals decision on their petition for writ of habeas corpus.

On March 28, on the eve of her son’s 39th birthday, Mrs. Burgos was surprised that the police had filed a complaint against a former New People’s Army commander for Jonas’ abduction—which even included her as co-complainant. The latest complaint filed with the Department of Justice had her as co-petitioner with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) against Delfin De Guzman for kidnapping and illegal detention of Jonas.

Mrs. Burgos dismissed the latest moves and the charge as ludicrous –pointing out among other things that De Guzman had already been in jail for more than a year at the time of Jonas’ abduction.

Click here for our latest report on Jonas.