After 13 days of the disappearance, which allegedly involves uniformed soldiers, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo said authorities share citizens’ concern about the disappearance of the children “by criminal groups.”

The official rejected linking the armed forces to the events “to weaken the work of law enforcement”.

The four children, Josué Arroyo, Ismael Arroyo, Saúl Arboleda, and Steven Medina, aged between 11 and 15, disappeared on December 8 in Guayaquil and witnesses saw men in military and police uniforms take them away in a van.

Since then, the children´s whereabouts are unknown. There are criticisms of the military institutions for an alleged misuse of force.

Loffredo rejected “an action motivated by political interests” that seeks to link the Armed Forces to criminal groups.

However, the head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, Jaime Vela, said he would not rest until he could give results to the children’s parents.

jrr/arm/oda/avr