22 F. Manuel Antonio Bonilla and Ricardo Ayala Abarca 123. Manuel Antonio Bonilla was born on December 7, 1971, in the canton of Cerros de San 99 Pedro, municipality of San Esteban Catarina, department of San Vicente, El Salvador. Manuel Antonio 100 Bonilla is the son of José de la Paz Bonilla and María de los Ángeles Osorio. His siblings are José Arístides Bonilla, 14 years old at the time of the disappearance, and María Inés Bonilla, 16 years old at 101 the time of the disappearance. His maternal grandmother is María Josefa Rosales and his paternal 102 aunt and uncle are María Esperanza Alvarado and Luis Alberto Alvarado . 103 124. There is no legible documentary evidence of Ricardo Ayala Abarca’s date of birth. The family of Ricardo Ayala Abarca was made up of his mother Petrolina Abarca Alvarado, his grandmother 104 Paula Alvarado, and his siblings Ester, Daniel, José Humberto, Osmín Abarca. 1. Facts surrounding their disappearances 125. Next is a description of the facts that surrounded the disappearance of Manuel Antonio Bonilla and Ricardo Ayala Abarca according to the narration by the petitioners, which has been recognized by the State in the procedure before the Inter-American Commission. 126. From August 19 to 24, 1982, in Quebrada Seca, road to Los Conejos, canton of Amatitán Abajo, jurisdiction of San Esteban Catarina, in the department of San Vicente, a military operation was 105 carried out by members of the Fifth Infantry Brigade and the Atlacatl Immediate Response Battalion. The operation was directed by the Ministry of Defense and the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the 106 Armed Forces. 127. This operation was called “Lieutenant Colonel Mario Azenón Palma” 108 participation of nearly 6,000 troops. 107 and included the 128. On August 19, 1982, when the operation began, the families that were living in the canton of Cerros de San Pedro and other neighboring cantons were forced to flee their homes and take refuge in the mountains. The family of Manuel Antonio Bonilla was one of those that fled and in the mountains they 109 met up with other families in the same situation. 129. In the context of an exchange of gunfire near the hamlet of Guayabillas, the family of Manuel Antonio Bonilla became separated, and at that moment met up with the child Ricardo Ayala Abarca, who was carrying his six-year-old sister Ester. From that moment, after walking for three days, the group stopped by a sugar cane field, in an area known as Quebrada Seca, to eat and rest. At that 99 Annex xx. Birth certificate of Manuel Antonio Bonilla, issued January 27, 2003. 100 Annex xx. Birth certificate of Manuel Antonio Bonilla, issued January 27, 2003. 101 Facts narrated by the petitioners, recognized by the State. 102 Facts narrated by the petitioners, recognized by the State. 103 Annex xx. Illegible birth certificate. Facts narrated by the petitioners, recognized by the State. 104 Facts narrated by the petitioners, recognized by the State. 105 Facts narrated by the petitioners, recognized by the State. 106 Annex xx. El Diario de Hoy, August 28, 1982. 107 Annex xx. Diario Latino. Finaliza operación contra insurgente en San Vicente “Operación Mario Palma”, August 24, 1982. 108 From Madness to Hope: The 12-Year War in El Salvador: Report of the Commission on the Truth for El Salvador, Available at: http://www.fundacionpdh.org/lesahumanidad/informes/elsalvador/informe-de-la-locura-a-la-esperanza.htm. p. 124. 109 Facts narrated by the petitioners, recognized by the State.