Héctor Julio Alfonso López’s defense options suffered a significant legal setback after the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court denied the means aimed at dropping the case against him for alleged links to paramilitarism.
The former representative, known as the son of Enilce López alias La Gata, had requested the annulment of the trial on the grounds that it was being heard simultaneously before the Special Judge for Peace (JEP) and the Supreme Courtbut the Supreme Criminal Court unanimously rejected this approach.
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Alfonso López’s defense had also requested that the statements of several former paramilitaries be admitted into evidence, including Edgar Ignacio Fierro, alias Don Antonio, who was one of the leaders of the José Pablo Díaz Front of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), as well as statements of other former commanders of the same armed group.
The aim, according to the former congressman, was to show that the political project of the self-defense groups did not culminate in demobilization due to shortcomings in the Ralito process..
However, following the Supreme Court’s decision, several of the testimonies presented were not relevant to the events currently under investigation, and some witnesses had already given evidence in various instances, so their versions are already part of the court file.
The 29-page judgment states: “The Chamber clearly finds that counsel who preceded the appellant did not focus on the relevance of re-hearing these witnesses in what is now alleged in the appeal.” That is, he did not reiterate the need to deny or confirm the existence of a new illegal armed group under the command of Salvatore Mancuso and Enilce López, nor did he make a superficial allusion to this factual hypothesis..
Alfonso López’s trial was returned to the Supreme Court after the JEP rejected his request for protection on the grounds that his contribution to the truth was insufficient.
Although the former representative admitted to the transitional justice system that he was involved in the paramilitary project in the Montes de María region, he clarified that his support was indirect, in particular through the representative Fernando Tafur Díaz.
The decision of the Criminal Chamber allows the Trial Chamber to continue the proceedings after the end of the judicial vacancy, now with the final rejection of both the motion to quash and the additional evidence requested by the defense.
Just on July 12 of this year, the National Land Agency (ANT) reported the recovery of 268 hectares of the Pasatiempo property, property of former senator Héctor Julio Alfonso López.
The ANT confirmed an investment of more than $5.3 billion in community projects that will enable more than 4,100 people from 1,206 families to maintain agricultural inputs, poultry, livestock and agroforestry systems.. The aim is to reduce rural poverty by providing tools and resources for sustainable food production and income generation.
The institution’s director, Felipe Harman, stressed that the recovery of these areas represents progress in historical reparations and agrarian reform, strengthening social and agricultural justice for the affected farmers. The delivery of land from illegal activities aims to restore the rights of victims of the armed conflict.
In the Chocó department, coverage is most comprehensive, with an investment of more than $2,438 million in six indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, benefiting more than 2,000 people.
Traditional crops, livestock breeding, poultry production and agroforestry systems are promoted. In Valle del Cauca, the investment exceeds $1,071 million and benefits 831 people in Jamundí and Buenaventura, where agricultural equipment and poultry systems were delivered.
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