On February 17, 1975, the former mayor of Cañete during the previous government, Manuel Elías JANA SANTIBAÑEZ, a member of the PS, was killed. He had been detained on February 13, 1975, after having an audience with the Intendant of Arauco.

His spouse, who was waiting for him outside on that occasion, was given a supposed message from him telling her to return home and that he would follow later.

There was no news of his whereabouts until 4 or 5 days later, when Carabineros informed the family to go collect his body at the Naval Hospital of Talcahuano, where it was handed over to them in a sealed coffin.

Testimonies accessed by the Commission indicate that the victim was detained at the Gymnasium of the Talcahuano Naval Base, from where he was taken on the same day of his death, with the other detainees being told that he was being taken to the Hospital.

The death certificate lists the cause of death as suicide by hanging at the Talcahuano naval station. However, the aforementioned background information, which indicates that he was taken from his place of detention shortly before his death, alive and with the indication that he was being taken to the hospital, allows the Commission to reach the conviction that the victim was executed by Navy personnel, in violation of his human rights.