3 16. On August 4, 2008, the Commission informed the parties of the adoption of admissibility report No. 66/08 and asked the petitioners to submit their additional observations on the merits within two months. In addition, the Commission put itself at the parties’ disposal to pursue a friendly settlement. 17. On October 7, 2008, the petitioners requested additional time for submitting their observations on the merits. This extension was granted on November 6, 2008, for one month. On November 21, 2008, the petitioners submitted their observations on the merits, which were forwarded to the State on January 15, 2009. 18. On October 10, 2008, and June 2, 2009, the Salvadoran State filed its observations, which were forwarded to the petitioners on November 21, 2008, and June 8, 2009. 19. On July 17, 2009, the petitioners requested an additional month for submitting their observations. This extension was granted on July 24, 2009. 20. On August 13, 2009, the State submitted additional information, which was transmitted to the petitioners on September 9, 2009. 21. On July 30, September 14, and August 7, 2009, the petitioners sent additional information. These communications were forwarded to the State on October 19, 2009, and January 8, 2010. JOINDER OF THE CASES th 22. On November 6, 2009, during the 137 period of sessions, a joint public hearing was held on the four cases in the merits phase. On February 12, 2010, the petitioners submitted additional information as follow-up to the hearing, which was forwarded to the State on April 9, 2010. 23. On that same day, and in keeping with Article 29(1)(d) of its Rules of Procedure, the Commission decided to join cases 12,646 (Santos Ernesto Salinas), 12,647 (Emelinda Lorena Hernández), and 12,667 (Manuel Antonio Bonilla and Ricardo Abarca Ayala) to the file in case 12,577 (José Adrián Rochac Hernández). 24. On April 19, 2010, the State requested a two-month extension to submit a proposed friendly settlement agreement. This extension was granted on May 5, 2010. 25. On November 19, 2010, the petitioners submitted additional information, which was forwarded to the State on December 27, 2010. On February 18, 2010, the State submitted a report in relation to the proposed friendly settlement agreement, which was forwarded to the petitioners on April 4, 2011. 26. On September 26, 2011, the Commission called the parties to a working meeting, to be held October 26, 2011. 27. On September 28, and on October 12, 17, and 26, 2011, the petitioners submitted additional information, which was sent to the State on October 14 and 19 and November 7, 2011, asking that it submit the observations it considered advisable. 28. On November 23, 2011, the State requested an extension until December 20, 2011. This extension was granted by the IACHR on November 30, 2011. 29. On May 2, 2012, the petitioners sent additional information, and on June 4, 2012, the IACHR informed the State that pursuant to the communication from the petitioners and in keeping with Article 40 of its Rules of Procedure, it was concluding its intervention in the friendly settlement procedure, and decided to continue with its consideration of the case on the merits.