personnel belonging to the institution had anything to do with the detention and imprisonment of Mr. Palma.46 70. Subsequently, the petitioners sent a communication addressed to then Interim President of the Republic, Dr. Fabián Alarcón Rivera, telling him about Mr. Palma’s kidnapping.47 On October 3, 1997, the Minister of the Interior and Police communicated to the petitioners that by disposition of the Ministry of National Defense, an investigation had already been conducted on the alleged kidnapping of Marco Bienvenido Palma Mendoza, and that results showed that at no time had he been detained by members of the Armed Forces.48 71. On June 9, 1998, the Chief of the Manta Police O.I.D. was informed that, as part of the investigation being conducted in that office on the kidnapping of Mr. Palma, Attorney Ignacio Reyes Cadenas and Lidia Bravo, the common-law wife of Marco Bienvenido Palma Mendoza, had been interviewed and that they had indicated that Mr. Lenin Ordóñez’s lover, known as “Bélgica,” had commented to a woman friend that Mr. Palma was dead and that he had been killed by Mr. Lenin Ordóñez, who was working as a member of the PECIA security team, which had new vehicles and sophisticated security equipment.49 The police report indicates that Mr. Palma’s son had said that one month before his father’s disappearance, he had encountered Mr. Lenin Ordóñez and had had an argument with him.50 72. On September 1, 1998, the National Investigations Office of the Manta O.I.D. reported to the Manta O.I.D. chief on the investigations, interviews, and procedures conducted, indicating that no information had been obtained on the whereabouts of Mr. Palma. 51 73. On January 25, 1999, the petitioners sent a communication to the Minister of National Defense, General José Gallardo Román, in which they asked him to initiate an investigation into the disappearance of Mr. Palma and the possible involvement of the Armed Forces, based on information supplied by the attorney Ignacio Reyes Cárdenas, lawyer for Mr. Palma’s common-law wife.52 On March 17, 1999, the Ministry of National Defense communicated to the petitioners that the intelligence personnel of the Ecuadorian Air Force, stationed at the Eloy Alfaro de Manta Air Base53 bore no responsibility and that it 46 Official letter ESMAAR-SED-062-0 of August 8, 1997, addressed to Sister Elsi Monge, President of CEDHU and signed by Timoshenko Guerrero Rivadeneira, Vice-Admiral, Chief of the Navy High Command. Appendix to petitioners’ communication dated March 20, 1998. 47 Official letter Nº 0347 of the Ministry of the Interior, October 3, 1997, addressed to Sister Elsie Monge, President of CEDHU and signed by Ec. César Verduga Vélez, Minister of Interior and Police. Appendix to petitioners’ communication dated March 20, 1998. 48 Official letter Nº 0347 of the Ministry of the Interior, October 3, 1997, addressed to Sister Elsie Monge, President of CEDHU and signed by Ec. César Verduga Vélez, Minister of Interior and Police. Appendix to petitioners’ communication dated March 20, 1998. 49 Provincial Commando of Manabí Nº 4, Report sent to the Chief of the Manta O.I.D. on June 9,1998, signed by Lino Caicedo Bonifacio, Police Sergeant. Appendix to the communication of the State dated August 24, 2000. 50 Provincial Commando of Manabí Nº 4, Report sent to the Chief of the Manta O.I.D. on June 9,1998, signed by Lino Caicedo Bonifacio, Police Sergeant. Appendix to the communication of the State dated August 24, 2000. 51 National Investigations Office, Offices of the Chief- Assistant Chief of the Manta-Manbí O.I.D. Report No. 98-490-OID-MM of September 1, 1998, signed by Sgt. Lino Caicedo Bonifacio, Investigator. Appendix to the December 1, 1998 communication of the State. 52 Official letter No. 034-CEDHU/99 of January 25, 1999, signed by Elsie Monge, president of CEDHU, addressed to José Gallardo Román, Minister of National Defense. Appendix to the petitioners’ communication dated February 22, 1999. 53 Official letter No. 990281-MJ-2-b of March 17, 1999, signed by Oscar Isch, Brigadier General of the Ministry of National Defense, addressed to Sister Elsi Monge, Executive Director of CEDHU. Appendix to the petitioners’ communication dated May 31, 1999.