The twenty-eight "disappeared" while in the custody of the security force, marking it one of the largest forced disappearances in Latin American history. In 1965, a new Constitution of Guatemala was approved, and general elections were held on March 6, 1966, contested by the Institutional Democratic Party (PID), who supported Peralta, and the PR. The PR candidate Julio César Méndez Montenegro won, and Peralta peacefully handed power to Méndez on July 1. Later life and death Peralta unsuccessfully contested the 1978 elections as a candidate for the MLN. He died on February 18, 1997, in Miami. References Presidents of Guatemala People of the Guatemalan Civil War Political party founders People from Guatemala City Guatemalan military personnel 1908 births 1997 deaths Defense Ministers of Guatemala Agriculture ministers of Guatemala