Today is the commemoration of the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For a daughter of a desaparecido who was victimized by alleged state forces, today is the ninth Human Rights Day she is not joined by her activist father because he remains nowhere to be found.

Leo Velasco was a peace consultant of the National Democractic Front of the Philippines, pushing for reforms and fighting for people's rights. On February 19, 2007, Velasco was abducted by armed men in Cagayan de Oro.

At that time, her daughter Lorena "Aya" Santos was 25 years old and had been a member of the rights group Karapatan, assisting families of desaparecidos and other human rights victims.

Little did she know that she will receive a call informing her: "Nakuha 'yung tatay mo."

Aya immediately flew to Cagayan de Oro, hoping to get a clue of her father's whereabouts.

But days, weeks, months, birthdays, holidays and even Aya's wedding passed by without news of what happened to Leo.

For the past nine years, Aya has been searching for the man she calls "Tatay."

In an interview, Aya said she had always known that her parents are activists and considered enemies of the state because of their political beliefs.

She said her father was always open about his political beliefs, telling her: "Kaaway ako ng gobyerno. Maaari akong mamatay o may mangyaring hindi maganda."

"Some people make a stand and some people do something about the current government or the current system," Aya said.

Was she able to prepare herself for the day of her father's disappearance?

Aya said she did, but no amount of preparation would ready yourself if a loved one suddenly disappeared.

"Masakit kasi namimiss mo, 'yung mga turning points ng buhay ko wala siya. Nagka-asawa ako, nagbirthday. Sana I could share it with him," she said.

Aya filed for writ of habeas corpus and writ of amparo but was denied. They filed for an appeal in 2009 but the Supreme Court has no decision yet.

However, there is one thing that hurts more than not knowing the state of her father, of whether he is tortured or killed.

"Ang mas masakit actually ay yung injustice. Matatanggap ko 'yung wala siya or namatay siya pero may nanagot," she said.

Lorena "Aya" Santos, daughter of the disappeared Leo Velasco, waits for justice.