69. The Monday following Mr. García’s detention, Mrs. Montenegro went to CAVISA where he worked to seek help and, on Wednesday, February 22, 1984, the company filed an application for habeas corpus in his name. In response, the Supreme Court of Justice requested information from the heads of the five units of the National Police, the Internal Investigations Department, the Drugs and Narcotics Section, and the Specialized Technical Investigations Department as to whether Mr. García was detained. 82 70. In view of the lack of response, Mrs. Montenegro gave a press conference on February 23, 1984. 83 Also, on March 2 that year, she filed a complaint with the Vice Minister of Defense, who asked the Director General of the National Police for information about the events. The Fifth Unit of the National Police responded indicating that “no one of that name” had been arrested by that unit on February 18, 1984, but that “the corresponding investigations w[ould] be conducted.” 84 The family also published press releases about Mr. García’s disappearance. The Minister of the Interior sent at least two of these publications to the Director of the National Police on March 15, 1984, so that the events denounced could be investigated. 85 On March 27 that year, the Technical Investigations Department of the National Police (hereinafter “the DIT”) recorded, inter alia, that “all the procedures undertaken have had negative results; to this end, visits have been made to detention centers, and State and private hospitals, and morgue records have been consulted. […] Attempts have also been made to locate family members […] to obtain information in this regard, but no one knows them”; the investigations would therefore remain open. 86 71. According to Mrs. Montenegro, “20 days after” Mr. García’s disappearance, a colonel allegedly showed objects taken from his home during a press conference indicating that they had been obtained from a guerrilla safe house. 87 However, in July 1984, the National Defense General Staff responded to a request for information by Mrs. Montenegro that the “situation d[id] not correspond to the Armed Forces; therefore, it politely suggest[ed] that 82 Cf. Testimony given by Nineth Varenca Montenegro Cottom before the Inter-American Court during the public hearing in this case; application for habeas corpus filed by Juan Fermín Valladares Castillo, on behalf of CAVISA, on February 22, 1984 (file of annexes to the Merits Report, tome I, annex 27, folio 254), and AHPN. Memorandum No. 138 of the General Secretariat of the National Police of February 22, 1984, GT PN 26-01 S003, No. 16749 (file of annexes to the motions and arguments brief, tome I, annex 33, folio 1419). 83 Cf. Testimony given by Nineth Varenca Montenegro Cottom before the Inter-American Court during the public hearing in this case. 84 Cf. AHPN. Note No. 02942 from the Ministry of Defense to the Director General of National Police of March 5, 1984, GT PN 30 S002, Nos. 16280 and 16281; Decision No. 5290/Of.10o.SG.rba of March 7, 1984, GT PN 30 S002, No. 16282, and Decision No. 028-84/OAQE of March 8, 1984, GT PN 30 S002, No. 16283 (file of annexes to the motions and arguments brief, tome II, annex A, folios 2646 to 2649). 85 Cf. inter alia, publication entitled “Gestiones por 10 secuestrados” [Measures taken on behalf of 10 individuals who have been kidnapped] published in “El Gráfico” on March 5, 1984 (file of annexes to the Merits Report, tome I, annex 24, folio 243); publication entitled “Carta abierta a quienes tengan en su poder a mi hijo” [Open letter to those holding my son] published in “La Palabra” on March 24, 1984 (file of annexes to the Merits Report, tome I, annex 20, folio 229); paid announcement in El Gráfico with a letter from Nineth Varenca Montenegro Cottom to Edgar Fernando García dated July 18, 1985 (file of annexes to the Merits Report, tome I, annex 24, folio 241). Also, Cf. AHPN. Note from the Minister of the Interior to the Director General of the National Police of March 15, 1984 (file of annexes to the motions and arguments brief, tome II, annex A, folios 2642 to 2644). 86 Cf. AHPN. Order No. 06937 from the Technical Investigations Department dated March 27, 1984 GT PN 50 S004, Nos. 8968 (file of annexes to the motions and arguments brief, tome I, annex 35, folio 1423). 87 Cf. Complaint filed by Nineth Varenca Montenegro Cottom before the PDH on January 22, 1988 (file of annexes to the Merits Report, tome I, annex 16, folio 210). 25