On September 20, 1973, at 06:00 hours, a raid began in the La Bandera neighborhood, in the La Granja commune, as part of a joint operation by members of the Fuerza Aérea, the Ejército, and Carabineros.

Testimonies received by this Commission indicate that several people were detained during this raid and taken to a sports field in the neighborhood. Once there, the officers in charge blindfolded them and forced them to lie face down on the ground.

This operation lasted until 18:00 hours. Subsequently, some individuals were transferred as detainees to the El Bosque Air Base and the 25th Carabineros Precinct located on Avenida Santa Rosa. This Commission learned of three cases of individuals detained on that occasion who remain forcibly disappeared to this day, and one person who was a victim of political execution:

Ricardo Octavio LOPEZ ELGUEDA, 15 years old, vendor. He was detained inside his home in the presence of his family and taken to the sports field. From there, he was transferred as a detainee to the 25th Carabineros Precinct on Santa Rosa, where he was seen by witnesses. Since that moment, his fate and whereabouts remain unknown.

Héctor Orlando VICENCIO GONZALEZ, 24 years old, laborer, detained at his home in the presence of his family and neighbors by members of the Fuerza Aérea, who arrested him when he stated that he did not have his identity card. Despite the countless efforts made by his family, he remains forcibly disappeared to this day.

Simón Eladio SANCHEZ PEREZ, 17 years old, student, lived with his family in Villa O’Higgins in the La Florida commune. That day, his father sent him to deliver an iron to the La Bandera neighborhood. At that time, the neighborhood was being raided, and it is presumed that he was detained upon entering it. Since that day, his whereabouts remain unknown.

Luis Osvaldo SILVA, 38 years old, street vendor. He was detained at his home, in the presence of witnesses, by uniformed officers who beat him and took him to an unknown destination. His family searched for him unsuccessfully in various facilities.

On September 30, his family was informed that his body had been found on Cerro San Cristóbal with multiple gunshot wounds. The date of death is recorded as September 21.

Considering the circumstances of the detentions and the fact that none of the three aforementioned individuals ever made contact with their families again, and that records from State agencies show no record of them leaving the country, this Commission is convinced that Ricardo López, Héctor Vicencio, and Simón Sánchez were forcibly disappeared and Luis Osvaldo Silva was executed by State agents who violated their human rights.