30
handing over to her the children Ester Abarca Ayala and Mauricio Osorio Alvarado. 155 Several
witnesses claim to have seen the two children and a woman at the army barracks in Sensuntepeque.156
At the time of their capture, Manuel Antonio Bonilla and Ricardo Abarca Ayala were 10 and 13 years
old, respectively.
82.
After the conflict, their next of kin made numerous efforts to find Manuel Antonio Bonilla and
Ricardo Abarca Ayala. In the Report of the Truth Commission for El Salvador, published in 1993, the
two boys appear on the lists of victims of homicide, according to “indirect sources”, at the hands of
the armed forces of El Salvador.”157
83.
On January 20, 1996, this case was presented to the Search Association.158 On May 31, 1996,
the Search Association forwarded to the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman a list of several
complaints submitted to the Association by the families of disappeared children, including those
related to the disappearance of Manuel Antonio Bonilla and Ricardo Abarca Ayala. 159
84.
On February 18, 2002, Mrs. Petronila Abarca Alvarado filed a writ of habeas corpus before the
Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court for the disappearance of her son, Ricardo Abarca
Ayala.160 Together with the brief, she provided his birth certificate and offered the statement of a
witness as evidence.161 For her part, on December 25, 2002, María de los Ángeles Osorio filed a writ
of habeas corpus before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court for the disappearance of
her son Manuel Antonio Bonilla.162 Together with the brief, she provided her son’s birth certificate.
85.
In the context of the habeas corpus proceeding related to Ricardo Abarca Ayala, the Head of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, at the request of the executing judge appointed for that
proceeding, indicated that “upon reviewing the archives of that institution, and of various military
Cf. Affidavit rendered by Ester Abarca Ayala on March 21, 2014 (evidence file, volume X, affidavits, folios 4745 to
4746), and Statement rendered before the Inter-American Court by José Arístides Bonilla Osorio during the public hearing
held on April 1, 2014.
155
Cf. Affidavit rendered by Ester Abarca Ayala on March 21, 2014 (evidence file, volume X, affidavits, folios 4745 to
4746), and Statement rendered before the Inter-American Court by José Arístides Bonilla Osorio during the public hearing
held on April 1, 2014.
156
Cf. Report of the Truth Commission for El Salvador, “From Madness to Hope:” Annexes, Volume II, and #6. List of
victims submitted to the Truth Commission” based on “Indirect Source”, pages 16 and 20 (file of proceedings before the
Commission, volume II, folios 916 to 918). In this regard, the Search Association explained that the next of kin did not directly
approach the Truth Commission but did engage with other organizations to report that both children were victims of the
actions of the Armed Forces of El Salvador. It added that “their inclusion in the lists of people assassinated was probably due
to the fact that in 1993, Salvadoran families had little hope that children abducted by the Armed Forces would still be alive.”
Brief of Asociación Pro-Búsqueda of November 10, 2006 (file of proceedings before the Commission, volume II, folio 1049).
157
Cf. Telefax issued by the Asociación Pro-Búsqueda on February 2, 2005 (file of proceedings before the Commission,
volume II, folio 970).
158
Cf. Telefax issued by the Asociación Pro-Búsqueda addressed to the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman on May
31, 1996 (evidence file, volume IV, annex 7 to the submission of the case, folio 1875), and list of cases presented by the
Asociación Pro-Búsqueda to the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman on May 31, 1996 (file of proceedings before the
Commission, volume II, folios 982 to 985).
159
Cf. Writ of habeas corpus before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court presented by Petronila Abarca
Alvarado on February 18, 2002 (evidence file, volume V, annex 31 to the pleadings, motions and evidence brief, folios 2439
to 2442).
160
Cf. Writ of habeas corpus before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court presented by Petronila Abarca
Alvarado on February 18, 2002 (evidence file, volume V, annex 31 to the pleadings, motions and evidence brief, folios 2439
to 2442).
161
Cf. Writ of habeas corpus before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court presented by María de los Ángeles
Osorio on December 25, 2002 (evidence file, volume V, annex 27 to the brief of pleadings, motions and evidence, folios 2381
to 2384).
162