29
the National Army and the Aquila Group of the 4th Brigade.124 They also noted that at around 7:00 a.m.
four soldiers left the residence of the Gallego Hernández family and headed to Mr. Pedro Pablo Muñoz’s
house,125 where they found María Irene Gallego Quintero.126 They claimed that the soldiers found a
shot gun at that location127 and that they used the weapon to fire shots close to María Irene in order to
scare her,128 while telling her she was “a Goddamn guerrilla member.”129 They also testified that a
soldier said “don’t kill her, this gal is still very useful to us, let’s take her away.”130 According to
testimony, the soldiers returned to the home of Mr. Eliseo Gallego Quintero, but now with María
Irene,131 ordering the family to remain inside.132 The witnesses stated that they could see – through the
bullet holes – how they undressed María and put an army uniform, boots and a green ammo bag on
her.133 The testimonial account is that at about 4:00 p.m., the soldiers left with María Irene,134 who was
shouting “don’t take me, I don’t have anything.”135 They indicated that the soldiers told them to not file
124
Annex 39. Statement of Florinda de Jesús Gallego Hernández to the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation,
dated April 14, 1998. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 5. Pages 210-213. Compact disk attached to petitioners’
communication of June 24, 2010; Annex 38. Statement of Jhon Fredy Castaño Gallego to the National Human Rights Unit of the
Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, dated April 15, 1998. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at IACHR on
February 1, 2007.
125
Annex 29. Statement of Florinda de Jesús Gallego Hernández to the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation,
dated November 28, 2000. Annex to petitioners’ communication of September 1, 2004.
126
Annex 19. Submission of the Corporación Jurídica Libertad to the National Human Rights Unit of the Office of the
Attorney General of the Nation, filed on April 2, 2007. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999; Annex 30.
Statement of José Eliseo Gallego Quintero to the Office of the Municipal Ombudsman of El Carmen de Viboral, dated July 19,
1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999.
127
Annex 41. Statement of Carmen Muñoz Castaño to Municipal Police and Traffic Inspectors of Cocorná, dated
August 4, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999.
128
Annex 41. Statement of Carmen Muñoz Castaño to Municipal Police and Traffic Inspectors of Cocorná, dated
August 4, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999; Annex 30. Statement of José Eliseo Gallego Quintero to
the Office of the Municipal Ombudsman of El Carmen de Viboral, dated July 19, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of
July 1, 1999.
129
Annex 29. Statement of Florinda de Jesús Gallego Hernández to the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation,
dated November 28, 2000. Annex to petitioners’ communication of September 1, 2004.
130
Annex 29. Statement of Florinda de Jesús Gallego Hernández to the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation,
dated November 28, 2000. Annex to petitioners’ communication of September 1, 2004.
131
Annex 30. Statement of José Eliseo Gallego Quintero to the Office of the Municipal Ombudsman of El Carmen de
Viboral, dated July 19, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999.
132
Annex 24. Statement of Jhon Fredy Castaño Gallego to the National Human Rights Unit of the Office of the
Attorney General of the Nation, dated November 10, 2004. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 10. Pages 81-85. Compact disk
attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24, 2010.
133
Annex 29. Statement of Florinda de Jesús Gallego Hernández to the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation,
dated November 28, 2000. Annex to petitioners’ communication of September 1, 2004.
134
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; Annex 29. Statement of Florinda de Jesús Gallego Hernández to the Office of the
Attorney General of the Nation, dated November 28, 2000. Annex to petitioners’ communication of September 1, 2004.
135
Annex 29. Statement of Florinda de Jesús Gallego Hernández to the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation,
dated November 28, 2000. Annex to petitioners’ communication of September 1, 2004.