38
121.
unknown.
As of the present date, the fate or whereabouts of Orlando de Jesús Muñoz are
3.5.3. Case of Octavio de Jesús Gallego Hernández
122. According to the testimony of Héctor Manuel González Ramírez, at around 4:00 p.m, he
was with Octavio Gallego on the side of the Medellín-Bogotá highway trying to locate the bodies of Juan
Carlos Gallego and Jaime Mejía.195 He testified that four vehicles arrived, and two men dressed in
civilian clothing got out, who “were carrying the long range firearms used by the military forces.” 196 He
stated that said individuals called over Octavio de Jesús and told him to “come over because they
needed him.” He said that he was overpowered and forced to get into the car. He stated that the army
soldiers were “two blocks down the road,” and didn’t do anything to prevent these acts.
123. The witness testified that a few days later, he saw the two individuals, who had taken
Octavio Jesús Gallego away, wearing military uniforms, insignias and were part of a military platoon of
fifteen troops.197 Another witness angrily confronted a member of the paramilitary forces for the
disappearances and he responded that they were taken away “to torture them so they would tell the
truth.”198
124.
is unknown.
As of the present date, the fate or whereabouts of Octavio de Jesús Gallego Hernández
3.6.
Disappearance of Andrés Gallego Castaño and Leonidas Cardona Giraldo on December
27, 1996
125. Witnesses stated that on December 27, 1996 at 8:30 p.m, approximately ten armed men
dressed as civilians came to the residence of Leonidas Cardona Giraldo in two SUVs.199 According to the
account of his wife, these individuals identified themselves as members of the paramilitary forces, asked
Leonidas Cardona for his ID and told him that there was a member of the guerrilla forces by that
195
Annex 12. Statement of Héctor Manuel González Ramírez to the National Human Rights Unit of the Regional Office
of the Attorney General, dated April 15, 1998. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 2. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’
communication of June 24, 2010.
196
Annex 50. Statement of Héctor Manuel González Ramírez to the National Human Rights Unit of the Office of the
Attorney General of the Nation, dated November, 2004. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1,
2007.
197
Annex 50. Statement of Héctor Manuel González Ramírez to the National Human Rights Unit of the Office of the
Attorney General of the Nation, dated November, 2004. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1,
2007.
198
Annex 12. Statement of María Engracia Hernández Quintero to the National Human Rights Unit of the Regional
Office of the Attorney General, dated April 15, 1998. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 2. Compact disk attached to
petitioners’’ communication of June 24, 2010.
199
Annex 43. Statement of Gabriel de Jesús Cardona Fernández to the Office of the Municipal Ombudsman of El
Carmen de Viboral, dated December 30, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of September 1, 2004; Annex 9. Statement
of María del Rocío Cardona Fernández to the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, dated December 30, 1996. Case File
No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 12. Pages 303-304. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24, 2010.