36
115. The same day as these acts, the police inspector of the municipality of Cocorná issued a
report on the removal of the body of Mr. Giraldo.181 It noted that the body was found in the village of
San Vicente on the left side of the Medellín-Bogotá highway. The autopsy performed on the body
indicated that it presented injuries and holes in the back, shoulder, chest, neck, lip, chin and right ribs. 182
Later, the Sole Notary of Cocorná issued an official certificate of death.183
3.5.
Disappearances of Hernando de Jesús Castaño Castaño, child Andrés Suárez Cordero –
son of alias Fredy, Octavio de Jesús Gallego Hernández and Orlando de Jesús Muñoz
Castaño on July 9, 1996
3.5.1. Case of Jesús Castaño Castaño and child Andrés Suarez Cordero
116. Witnesses stated that after the disappearance of the man known by the alias Fredy and
his wife on June 22, 1996 (see supra paras. 92-93), their son Andrés Suárez Cordero was first cared for
by several different people of Vereda La Esperanza, and then ended up being cared for by Florinda
Gallego Hernández because “nobody else wanted to take responsibility for him.”184 One witness claimed
that the army soldiers were asking about the child.185
117. According to testimonies, on July 9, 1996, at 3:30 p.m, a group of about five to nine
armed individuals dressed as civilians entered the residence of Mrs. Florinda Gallego Hernández.186 She
said they asked her, as well as her husband Jesús Castaño Castaño, about Andrés Suárez Cordero.187
Additionally, she testified that they told her “guerrilla members live” at said house and that “all guerrilla
collaborators have to be done away with.” She claimed that after telling them that the baby was with
181
Annex 49. Report No. 084, File No. 21.005 of the Regional Directorate of the Technical Investigation Corps of the
Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, dated November 27, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR
on February 1, 2007.
182
Annex 49. Report No. 084, File No. 21.005 of the Regional Directorate of the Technical Investigation Corps of the
Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, dated November 27, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR
on February 1, 2007; Annex 13. Judicial decision of the National Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit of the
Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, signed by Special Prosecutor Lilia Hernández Ramírez, dated April 30, 2003. Case
File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 9. Pages 251-302. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010.
183
Annex 13. Judicial decision of the National Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit of the Office of
the Attorney General of the Nation, signed by Special Prosecutor Lilia Hernández Ramírez, dated April 30, 2003. Case File No.
233 UNDH. Book No. 9. Pages 251-302. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010.
184
Annex 33. Statement of Juan Carlos Gallego Hernández to the Office of the Municipal Ombudsman of Cocorná,
dated June 30, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999; Annex 44. Complaint filed by Florinda de Jesús
Gallego Hernández with the municipal criminal court of Cocorná, dated July 11, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of
July 1, 1999; Annex 40. Statement of the sister of Juan Carlos Gallego Hernández. Compact disk of Corporación Jurídica Libertad
attached to petitioners’ submission of March 23, 2010.
185
Annex 21. Addendum to the complaint of Andrés Gallego Castaño filed with the Office of the Attorney General of
the Nation, Cocorná, dated October 25, 1996. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 1. Compact disk attached to petitioners’
communication of June 24, 2010.
186
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 44.
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.
187
Annex 44. Complaint filed by Florinda de Jesús Gallego Hernández with the municipal criminal court of Cocorná,
dated July 11, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999.