A judge in Ecuador has ordered the detention of 16 air force members following their alleged involvement in the disappearance of four children. The children's charred remains were discovered weeks after they were seen being forced into a military patrol car against their will. This shocking case has sparked protests against the military, which has been leading a crackdown on violent criminal groups under President Daniel Noboa's administration.
Forensic tests confirmed that the four charred corpses found last week belonged to the missing children - Saúl Arboleda, Steven Medina, and brothers Josué and Ismael Arroyo. The children were reported missing on December 8 after being detained by soldiers in Guayas province. Video evidence released by the National Assembly showed the children being coerced into a patrol car against their will.
The defense ministry initially claimed that the children had been involved in a robbery but later acknowledged their detention, insisting they were released. However, the Prosecutor's Office found no evidence to support the robbery allegations.
The news of the forensic identifications was met with frustration and heartbreak across the nation. Calls for justice and transparency echoed as dozens of people, including the children's relatives and friends, gathered outside the hearing to demand truth and accountability.
President Noboa has vowed that there will be no impunity in this case and urged law enforcement institutions to collaborate with the Attorney General's Office during the investigations. The defense ministry and armed forces have pledged full cooperation in the ongoing investigations without reservations.
The National Assembly and the Mayor's Office of Quito have declared three days of mourning in honor of the children. The tragic incident has deeply impacted the country, prompting a collective call for justice and a commitment to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
