tell her what had happened.21 The other men put Mr. Palma inside their pick-up truck and drove off in a direction unknown.22 59. Moments before these events, Manuel Armijos, SECAP security guard, approached the white pick-up truck, which was parked in front of the SECAP entrance, to find out what they were doing in that place.23 Before he could get to the pick-up truck, one of the men in the truck approached him and told him not to worry because they belonged to the “intelligence force” and he showed him identification.24 60. The same May 16, 1997, around 10:00 a.m., Mr. Palma’s common-law wife, Lidia Guadalupe Bravo, found out from her son that Marco Bienvenido Palma Mendoza had been kidnapped.25 Immediately Mrs. Lidia Bravo Bravo mobilized along with family members, friends, and neighbors to look for Mr. Palma in police stations and jails without obtaining any positive response. They also publicized what had happened in local and national media.26 61. On May 17, 1997, Mrs. Lidia Bravo filed a report on the kidnapping of Mr. Palma at the Eleventh Criminal Court of Manabi and requested that the relevant investigations be initiated.27 She also requested that official notice be given to the Criminal Investigations Office (O.I.D) of the Manta Police in order to obtain information about the events she had reported.28 Mrs. Bravo reported that at the place the kidnapping had occurred, a SECAP staff member had indicated to them that the white truck had arrived accompanied by a blue FAE pick-up truck and another car with uniformed military personnel who were in communication with people inside the white pick-up truck and that they were making signs and gesturing to each other.29 21 Grievance presented by Mrs. Lidia Guadalupe Bravo Bravo, the common-law wife of Mr. Marco Palma Mendoza, before the Criminal Court Judge XXI of Manabí on May 17, 1997. Appendix to the August 24, 2000 communication of the State. 22 Grievance presented by Mrs. Lidia Guadalupe Bravo Bravo, the common-law wife of Mr. Marco Palma Mendoza, before the Criminal Court Judge XXI of Manabí on May 17, 1997. Appendix to the August 24, 2000 communication of the State; Police Report No. 2000-128-PJ-M-COMPL of February 26, 2000, signed by Aladino Zambrano, investigator of the Ecuadorian National Police, addressed to the Chief of the Manta Judicial Police. Appendix 4 to the written communication of the petitioners received December 7, 2005. 23 Interview with Manuel Armijos. Police Report No. 97-218-OID-MM-PREL of May 23, 1997, signed by Lino Caicedo, investigator of the Ecuadorian National Police, addressed to the Assistant Chief of Police of the Manta Criminal Investigations Unit. Appendix to the August 24, 2000 communication of the State. Appendix to the petitioners’ communication dated November 17, 2005. 24 Police Report No. 97-218-OID-MM-PREL of May 23, 1997, signed by Lino Caicedo, investigator of the Ecuadorian National Police, addressed to Assistant Chief of Police of the Manta Criminal Investigations Unit. Appendix to the August 24, 2000 communication of the State; Appendix to the communication of the petitioners dated November 17, 2005. 25 Report filed by Mrs. Lidia Guadalupe Bravo Bravo, common-law wife of Mr. Marco Palma Mendoza, before Criminal Judge XXI of Manabí on May 17, 1997. Appendix to the communication of the State from August 24, 2000. 26 Report filed by Mrs. Lidia Guadalupe Bravo Bravo, common-law wife of Mr. Marco Palma Mendoza, before Criminal Judge XXI of Manabí on May 17, 1997. Appendix to the communication of the State from August 24, 2000 27 Report filed by Mrs. Lidia Guadalupe Bravo Bravo, common-law wife of Mr. Marco Palma Mendoza, before Criminal Judge XXI of Manabí on May 17, 1997. Appendix to the communication of the State from August 24, 2000 28 Report filed by Mrs. Lidia Guadalupe Bravo Bravo, common-law wife of Mr. Marco Palma Mendoza, before Criminal Judge XXI of Manabí on May 17, 1997. Appendix to the communication of the State from August 24, 2000. 29 Report filed by Mrs. Lidia Guadalupe Bravo Bravo, common-law wife of Mr. Marco Palma Mendoza, before Criminal Judge XXI of Manabí on May 17, 1997. Appendix to the communication of the State from August 24, 2000. Police Report No. 97-218-OID-MM-PREL of May 23, 1997, signed by Lino Caicedo, investigator of the Ecuadorian National Police, addressed to the Assistant Chief of Police of the Manta Criminal Investigations Unit. Appendix to the August 24, 2000 communication of the State; Statement of prisoner, Lenin Ordóñez. Police Report