Group of Personal Friends

The Group of Personal Friends, known in Spanish as Grupo de Amigos Personales and commonly abbreviated GAP, was an informal armed security organization associated with Chilean president Salvador Allende. It was created during Allende's 1970 presidential campaign and remained active during his presidency until the military coup of September 11, 1973. Although it had no clear formal legal status as a state institution, the group became Allende's principal personal protection force and operated alongside Chile's regular police and investigative services. The organization was formed by Fernando Gómez, a former member of the Cuban-trained Ñancahuazú Guerrilla, at the initiative of Beatriz Allende, Salvador Allende's daughter. Its initial members included former guerrilla fighters, and the group later incorporated members connected to the Revolutionary Left Movement, or MIR. Cuba provided advisers and training assistance. After Allende took office, concerns about political violence and the 1970 assassination of Chilean Army commander René Schneider contributed to his decision to retain the GAP as a permanent protective organization rather than dissolve it after the election. The GAP's responsibilities extended beyond close protection. It guarded Allende during public appearances, presidential travel, and stays at official residences. Its structure included an Escort element for close protection, an Advance element that surveyed locations before presidential visits, and a Garrison element assigned to presidential residences. Escort personnel commonly traveled in blue Fiat sedans, with police vehicles accompanying the motorcade. At its largest, approximately 130 people served in the organization over its short existence; by the time of the coup, its active strength was reported at roughly 50. The group received a major increase in weaponry during Fidel Castro's 1971 visit to Chile. Cuban protection personnel brought weapons including AK-47 rifles and RPG-7 launchers and left much of this equipment in Chile. The GAP had previously been armed largely with pistols. Its possession of military-style weapons, its connections with MIR, and its intelligence activities generated deep suspicion among Chile's armed forces, police, and political opposition. A 1972 operation in Curimon involving GAP personnel contributed to military intelligence concerns that the organization was being used for reconnaissance benefiting MIR. The relationship with MIR was subsequently reduced, and the group was placed under the formal control of the Socialist Party, with some MIR-associated members departing. The GAP's final and most consequential role came during the 1973 coup. La Moneda was initially defended by GAP personnel, detectives from the Investigations Police of Chile, and carabineros. Additional GAP members led by Domingo Blanco Tarré, known by the nom de guerre Bruno the White, attempted to reinforce the presidential residence. After the carabineros withdrew and the palace was attacked by the armed forces, the remaining defenders fought until surrender. Allende died inside the palace, and many GAP members were killed during the fighting or executed afterward. A group arrested outside the palace was convicted by a military court and later executed; their bodies were found on the banks of the Mapocho River on September 19, 1973. The organization ceased to exist after the coup. Its history remains connected to the political violence surrounding the end of Allende's government, the militarization of presidential protection, and the human-rights abuses committed during and after the coup. Memorials and cultural works have preserved the memory of its members, including a 2008 plaque at the former metropolitan-intendancy building and a documentary about the organization. An iconic photograph showing Allende leaving La Moneda between GAP members received the 1974 World Press Photo of the Year award.

The Group of Personal Friends emerged in the politically tense period surrounding Salvador Allende's 1970 presidential campaign. Fernando Gómez, a former participant in the Cuban-trained Ñancahuazú Guerrilla, organized the initial bodyguard at the urging of Beatriz Allende. Other former guerrilla fighters joined, followed by members linked to the Revolutionary Left Movement. The force was intended to protect Allende personally, but it developed into a wider political-security organization as the threat of violence increased. After Allende won the presidency, the assassination of Army commander René Schneider reinforced fears that the president could also be targeted. Allende therefore kept the GAP mobilized after his inauguration. The group's informal name arose when Allende was asked by a journalist to identify the armed men accompanying him and described them as a group of personal friends. Cuba supported the organization with technical advisers and training. During Fidel Castro's 1971 visit to Chile, Cuban protection personnel left behind substantial weaponry, including assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, substantially increasing the GAP's capabilities. The organization operated in a legally ambiguous space. It was not simply a branch of the Chilean police or armed forces, but it performed tasks normally associated with presidential security. Its members protected Allende, surveyed locations before visits, guarded presidential residences, and sometimes participated in intelligence and reconnaissance. Critics alleged that the group also gathered information for MIR activities against the political right. A poorly executed 1972 operation in Curimon heightened military awareness of the GAP's possible intelligence role. The resulting separation from MIR and transfer of the organization under Socialist Party control led to the departure or dismissal of several MIR-connected personnel. The GAP consisted of three principal elements. The Escort group, numbering approximately 20, provided immediate protection and traveled in a convoy of blue Fiat cars. The Advance group surveyed destinations before Allende arrived and was led by Francisco Argandoña, known as Mariano. The Garrison group was divided into three six-person sections assigned to presidential residences, where it worked with police guards. Around 130 people served in the GAP during its existence, although only about 50 were present by the time of the coup. Relations with the police and armed forces were often distrustful. During the June 1973 Tanquetazo, GAP members held an army patrol at gunpoint while Allende's motorcade passed, even though the soldiers were considered loyal to the government. Some senior officers who distrusted their own subordinates nevertheless sought GAP protection. General Carlos Prats reportedly asked the organization to help protect him, and naval aide Arturo Arata took command of the Escort group during part of the Tanquetazo response. On September 11, 1973, the GAP helped defend La Moneda. The initial defenders included GAP members, approximately 20 Investigations Police detectives, and around 300 carabineros. After the carabineros changed allegiance and withdrew, the palace was attacked by the armed forces. The assault included air force rockets and army tanks, followed by infantry entry into the building. GAP members fought, surrendered, or were captured. Allende died inside La Moneda, while many of his guards were killed in the fighting or executed afterward. Domingo Blanco Tarré, whose alias was Bruno the White, led a reinforcement group that attempted to reach the palace. He and other members captured outside the grounds were disarmed, arrested, convicted by the Second Military Court for illegal firearm possession, and later executed. Their remains were found beside the Mapocho River on September 19. Nearly 30 GAP personnel are reported to have died in combat or through post-coup executions. The group disappeared after the coup, but its members have since been commemorated through memorials, photography, and documentary film. An image of Allende leaving La Moneda flanked by GAP members won the 1974 World Press Photo of the Year, while a 2008 documentary examined the organization's history.

• 2023

  Posthumous conviction in GAP killings

  [1]Group of Personal Friendsen.wikipedia.org

  General Vicente Rodríguez Bustos was posthumously convicted for the murder of GAP personnel.

• 2008

  Memorial plaque installed in Santiago

  [1]Group of Personal Friendsen.wikipedia.org

  A plaque commemorating GAP members arrested and executed after the coup was installed at the Edificio de la Intendencia Metropolitana de Santiago.

• 2008

  Documentary examines the organization

  [1]Group of Personal Friendsen.wikipedia.org

  Chilean filmmaker Claudia Serrano Navarro released a documentary about the history of the Group of Personal Friends.

• 1974

  Photograph of Allende and GAP members wins World Press Photo

  [1]Group of Personal Friendsen.wikipedia.org

  Orlando Lagos's photograph of Allende leaving La Moneda with GAP members received the World Press Photo of the Year award.

• 1973

  Defense of La Moneda

  [1]Group of Personal Friendsen.wikipedia.org

  GAP personnel remained among the defenders of the presidential palace during the September 11 coup and were subsequently killed, captured, or executed.

• 1972

  Curimon operation increases military scrutiny

  [1]Group of Personal Friendsen.wikipedia.org

  A failed reconnaissance operation contributed to Chilean military intelligence concerns about the GAP's relationship with MIR.

• 1971

  Expansion of Cuban military support

  [1]Group of Personal Friendsen.wikipedia.org

  Cuban advisers assisted the GAP, and weapons brought by Fidel Castro's protection detail were left in Chile for the organization.

• 1970

  Formation during Allende's presidential campaign

  [1]Group of Personal Friendsen.wikipedia.org

  Fernando Gómez organized the initial bodyguard for Salvador Allende, with support from Beatriz Allende and later recruits from former guerrilla and leftist networks.

• 1970

  GAP retained after Allende's inauguration

  [1]Group of Personal Friendsen.wikipedia.org

  Following the assassination of Army commander René Schneider, Allende continued using the informal guard as a permanent personal-protection force.

An informal, politically loyal presidential protection force rather than a commercial brand or conventional state security agency.

• Close protection · 1970

  Presidential Escort

  The Escort element provided immediate personal security for Salvador Allende during public appearances and travel. It was associated with blue Fiat sedans, generally operating in a convoy with police vehicles. The group was reported to have approximately 20 members and formed the closest protective ring around the president.

• Security reconnaissance · 1970

  Advance Group

  The Advance element surveyed locations before Allende arrived. Its role combined conventional route and venue preparation with the broader reconnaissance activities attributed to the GAP. Francisco Argandoña, known by the alias Mariano, led this element.

• Residential security · 1970

  Garrison Group

  The Garrison element protected the three presidential residences. It was divided into three six-person sections, each working with police guards to provide static security at an assigned residence.

• 2023

  Posthumous conviction for GAP murders

  General Vicente Rodríguez Bustos was posthumously convicted in connection with the murder of GAP personnel during the aftermath of the 1973 coup.

  Source

• 1973

  Executions of captured GAP personnel

  GAP members arrested while attempting to reinforce La Moneda were convicted by a military court and executed after the coup. Their bodies were later found beside the Mapocho River.

  Source

Read more

• 1973Defense of La Moneda

  Chile

  GAP members joined police and carabineros in defending La Moneda during the military coup of September 11, 1973.

  Outcome. The palace fell after military assault; Allende died and the GAP was effectively destroyed.

  Source
• 1970Allende presidential campaign protection

  Chile

  The organization began as a volunteer-style armed guard protecting Salvador Allende during his presidential campaign and subsequently continued after his election.

  Outcome. The campaign resulted in Allende's election and the retention of the GAP as his presidential protection force.

  Source

• 1972

  Separation from MIR-linked operationsStrategy

  Background

  Military intelligence scrutiny increased after a failed GAP operation in Curimon and allegations that the group supported MIR intelligence activities.

  Action taken

  The GAP was placed under Socialist Party control, reducing its institutional connection with MIR and resulting in the departure or dismissal of several MIR members.

  Aftermath

  The organization continued as a politically loyal presidential guard until the 1973 coup.

  Source

• 1971

  Acceptance of expanded Cuban equipment and assistanceOther

  Background

  The GAP had initially been equipped mainly with pistols, while Cuban advisers supported its training and organization.

  Action taken

  Weapons brought by Cuban protection personnel during Fidel Castro's visit, including AK-47 rifles and RPG-7 launchers, were left in Chile for the GAP.

  Aftermath

  The organization's firepower increased, intensifying concern among Chilean military and political opponents.

  Source

• 1970

  Allende retains the GAP after taking officeStrategy

  Background

  The assassination of René Schneider and the wider threat of political violence led Allende to conclude that ordinary police protection was insufficient on its own.

  Action taken

  He kept the informal armed guard mobilized as a continuing presidential protection organization.

  Aftermath

  The GAP became Allende's principal personal security force despite its ambiguous legal status.

  Source

1. 1Group of Personal Friendsen.wikipedia.org