The other nine cases of alleged missing detainees similar to Bernarda Vera and the judges' reasons for ruling out fraud

The discovery of Bernarda Vera, who was listed as a disappeared detainee following the 1973 coup and was recently found alive in Argentina, has sparked intense scrutiny into the handling of similar cases. Authorities have acknowledged that there are nine other individuals whose status as disappeared detainees or victims of political violence was later determined to be inaccurate. These cases were not identified during the National Search Plan’s operations, unlike Vera's case and that of Luis Pino Soto, who was initially misclassified and only confirmed as a victim this year. According to officials, the government under President José Antonio Kast has taken steps to address these discrepancies. Following the confirmation of Vera’s identity, Justice Minister Fernando Rabat ordered an internal investigation into how such cases came to be included in the list of disappeared detainees. The ministry also sent formal letters to the State Defense Council (CDE) requesting an analysis of potential civil or criminal responsibilities related to these cases. Rabat emphasized that the situation involving Vera was not isolated, noting that there are a total of 12 cases, with nine being incorrectly classified and two involving duplicate entries. Among the individuals mentioned in the list are eight men and one woman, all of whom were added to the records based on incomplete or uncertain information at the time. Their names appear only through their initials: G.R.C.M, F.E.G.A, P.G.M.M, C.A.M.M, I.P.E, C.P.R.C, R.S.S.C, G.S.P, and E.T.V. Adding Vera brings the total to 10. Legal experts specializing in human rights have pointed out that these individuals were not necessarily victims of false documentation or irregular procedures. Rather, they were included in the lists because the available evidence at the time suggested such classifications. The current administration has stated that the previous government delayed providing information about these cases to the minister investigating them. Officials claim that once credible leads emerged, they promptly shared the findings with Judge Álvaro Mesa. Former Minister Jaime Gajardo told La Tercera that in October 2024, the ministry submitted its initial report regarding the Liquiñe case, which includes Vera, and expanded the details in May 2025. This suggests that the process of identifying and addressing these inaccuracies began some time ago. Legal representatives argue that while the inclusion of these individuals in the lists was based on the best available information at the time, the lack of thorough verification led to errors. They emphasize that these cases were not discovered through the National Search Plan, which focused on locating missing persons from the period of state violence. Instead, these cases emerged independently, often due to new evidence or public inquiries. The judicial authorities have ruled out fraud in the classification of these individuals. When early signs surfaced in 2025 indicating that Vera might still be alive, first through a report from the National Search Plan and later via a Chilevisión documentary, the legal defense team of prisoners held at the Punta Peuco prison, including lawyer Maximiliano Murath, dismissed claims of fraudulent activity. This stance aligns with broader efforts to clarify historical records without attributing malintent to past actions. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding how these cases were handled and ensuring transparency moving forward. The outcome could influence future policies on documenting and verifying historical human rights violations.