In July 2021, 21 people disappeared in the municipality of Pantelhó, causing distress among their families and the community. Months later, relatives accused Diego Mendoza, Pedro Cortés, and priest Marcelo Pérez as directly responsible for detaining and making the 21 disappear. The Prosecutor's Office arrested the two indigenous men and issued an arrest warrant against Marcelo Pérez.
During the judicial process, the presiding judge dismissed the lawyers chosen by the defendants, appointing public defenders, and ordered that the hearings be conducted virtually, without the presence of family members and witnesses. Subsequently, Pedro Cortés and Diego Mendoza were sentenced to 110 years in prison each by Judge Guadalupe Flores Rocha.
In a virtual hearing, the judge based her ruling on a video circulating on social media, despite the defense arguing that it did not prove the presence of the accused at the location. Additionally, indirect testimonies were taken into account to reach the verdict. Various organizations and lawyers pointed out that due process was not respected, hindering an adequate defense and the presence of advisors and family members at the hearings.
Jesuit priest José Avilés highlighted the work of Pedro Cortés and Diego Mendoza in the search for truth and justice, promoting non-violence in the region. Previously, both had been appointed municipal authorities in an assembly that constituted the Pantelhó Government Council. The tragic death of priest Marcelo Pérez prevented him from also being condemned in this case.
The disappearance of the 21 people occurred on July 26, 2021, when they were detained by local residents accused of various crimes. Despite the community's request for them to be brought before a judge, the authorities present at the scene refused, which led to their disappearance under circumstances still to be clarified.
