On August 21, 1979, the teacher Federico Renato ALVAREZ SANTIBAÑEZ, a militant of the MIR, passed away. He had been arrested on August 14 in Santiago by Carabineros officers under circumstances that were reported as him preparing to plant an explosive device. Other versions, provided by personnel who participated in the arrest, simply indicate that he was distributing pamphlets.

Subsequently, CNI agents took charge of his detention. On August 20, he was taken by them to testify before the 3rd Military Prosecutor's Office. Lawyers present at that facility were able to observe the very poor physical condition he was in.

From there, he was taken to the infirmary of the Penitenciaría, with requests to take him to a hospital being denied. The following day, he died at the Posta Central, where he had been taken in an emergency. Upon admission, he was diagnosed with multiple contusions, hemoptysis, and pulmonary insufficiency.

Officially, his death was explained as the result of a Carabineros officer having to strike him on the head to subdue him during his arrest.

However, based on the evidence gathered—especially the summary proceedings carried out by the Medical Association against the physicians who were involved in the events, which indicate that the cause of death was not linked to a possible blow to the head—the Commission has reached the conviction that Professor Alvarez died due to the torture he received while detained at a CNI barracks, considering his death a human rights violation for which state agents are responsible.