By Sergio Ocampo Arista, correspondent, La Jornada

Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico. The former spokesperson for the Ayotzinapa parents, Felipe de la Cruz, reported that Arturo Medina Padilla, assistant secretary for Human Rights, Population and Migration of the Ministry of the Interior Mexico, along with two parents jointly initiated “the search day” at the facilities of the 27th Infantry Battalion based in Iguala, Guerrero, for the 43 students of the Ayotzinapa college who were disappeared in September 2014.

Through a phone interview, Felipe de la Cruz explained, “today some of the parents took a turn and tomorrow another group will be searching; and I will be here next Friday in the city of Iguala at the conclusion of the search.”

It was also confirmed that during the search day (that started at 10:00 am) staff from the National Search Commission for the Ayotzinapa case participated using drones, other related machinery, and with the aid of two parents that insisted they were enough to not require others to come.

The search group used drones to survey the battalion barracks, while others used special machinery to examine other areas of the barracks looking for evidence of the Ayotzinapa 43.

It is considered that it is “part of the will and commitment of the President (Andrés Manuel López Obrador), because it was his idea and as he defends the (Mexican) Army, and we say that he did participate, and as in one way or another he has responsibilities; he has not allowed a thorough investigation in the battalion, today he said: well, so that doubts are dispelled, let’s search within the barracks, and then go ahead, if there are those responsible, if there is evidence, then things have to be done as they have to be done.”

Felipe de la Cruz assured that the search in these three days will be in the facilities of the 27th Battalion. “It is already being done outside, in the area of ​​influence, during all these days, but now the President wanted it to be inside the battalion,” he said.

The results of this search will be announced on August 27.

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Translated by the Chiapas Support Committee. Originally published by La Jornada, July 31, 2024. Click here for the original.