contended that, without detriment to the above, reports about threats against Mr. Pacheco had never been received. It added that indications of threats “in various cases have turned out to be difficult to prove.” 24. Regarding the alleged threats suffered by Mr. Pacheco’s next of kin, the State stated that it did not have any knowledge about the reporting of these threats to authorities having jurisdiction. IV. REVIEW OF THE MERITS A. Proven facts 1. The situation of Ángel Pacheco León before his death 25. Ángel Pacheco León was born in the Department of Valle 3 on December 23, 1958.4 At the time of the events, Mr. Pacheco was 42 years old. 5 According to the petitioners, Mr. Pacheco’s next of kin are: i) his mother Andrea Pacheco; ii) his spouse Blanca Rosa Herrera; iii) his brothers and sisters Otilia, Concepción, José, Blanca, María, Francisco, Norma, Marleny, Jamileth, Jaqueline, and Jorge, who all bear the Pacheco surname; iv) his sons and daughters Jimy Pacheco, Miguel Ángel Pacheco; Cinthia Pacheco Devicente, Miguel Pacheco Devicente, Tania Pacheco López, Juan Pacheco Euceda, and Bianca Pacheco Herrera.6 26. The Commission observes that there is no question that Mr. Pacheco became a member of the National Party and that, in 2001, submitted his candidacy to be a congressperson for the Department of Valle in the National Congress of Honduras. 7 Mr. Pacheco ended up winning the primaries for the National Party, as a result of which he appeared as the candidate to be the standing congressperson for the term of office 2002-2006 in the elections that took place on November 25, 2001.8 2. The threats to Ángel Pacheco León 27. According to the petitioners and next of kin (see below paragraphs 29-40), as well as the reports submitted by them to state authorities in the context of the investigation, Mr. Ángel Pacheco was threatened on various occasions after having won the primaries in 2001 by the following persons: i) Rafael Callejas, at the time candidate for the office of President of the Republic; ii) Benjamín Cárdenas, former congressperson; iii) Salvador Cárdenas, former member of the Armed Forces; iv) Raúl Pino, alternate congressperson; v) Manuel Vides, congressperson at the time; vi) Juan José Quiroz, known as Juan Che, mayor of Amapala at the time; and vii) Jorge Berrios, former congressperson. 28. Regarding this, the petitioners pointed out to the IACHR that he was summoned by the former President Rafael Leonard Callejas and his father to a meeting. 9 They stated that, at this meeting, which was also attended by President Ricardo Maduro, Rafael Callejas demanded that Mr. Pacheco yield his office as congressperson to Raúl Pino Rodríguez, to which Mr. Pacheco answered that he would not. 10 Afterwards, they 3 Communication from the petitioners received by the IACHR on August 27, 2004. Press clipping “Crimen no quedará impune” [Crime will not go unpunished] of November 24, 2001. Page 35. Annex to the communication from the petitioners received by the IACHR on August 27, 2004. 4 5 Communication from the petitioners received by the IACHR on August 27, 2004. Form. Annex to the communication from the petitioners received by the IACHR on August 27, 2004. Communication from the petitioners of June 24, 2012. 6 7 Communication from the petitioners received by the IACHR on August 27, 2004. Communication from the petitioners submitted at a hearing with the IACHR on October 30, 2014. 8 Communication from the petitioners received by the IACHR on August 27, 2004. 9 Communication from the petitioners received by the IACHR on August 27, 2004. Statement made by Marleny Pacheco on November 4, 2002. Annex to the communication from the petitioners received by the IACHR on August 27, 2004. 10 Communication from the petitioners received by IACHR on August 27, 2004.