Colombia is mired in a deep crisis of institutional trust after the revelation of alleged links between senior state officials and FARC dissidents, led by alias Calarcá. This scandal triggered a wave of research which affect both … The military and national intelligence have placed the “total peace” policy promoted by the current government at the center of public debate, raising deep concerns about the integrity of institutions and the effectiveness of internal controls.
The situation has been under investigation since July 2024, when a military checkpoint inspected a vehicle in which the delegation was transported of the armed group designated to establish dialogue with the government and cell phones, computers and hard drives were seized. Subsequently, the investigative unit of the local channel Caracol accessed emails, chats and documents indicating links between FARC dissidents and high-ranking state officials, including Army General J.Juan Miguel Huertas and Wilmar Mejíahead of the National Intelligence Directorate.
Both face disciplinary and legal proceedings for alleged contacts and agreements with the organization led by Calarcá. The Defense Ministry announced preventive measures, including the temporary suspension of General Huertas and the opening of a thorough inspection of his management, while formal investigations are carried out.
Among the most controversial aspects is the possibility that the armed group financed electoral campaigns.
The political debate intensified in the Senate, where lawmakers questioned the effectiveness of internal controls and demanded clear answers about whether the infiltration was the product of negligence or deliberate deals between sectors of the state and narcoterrorism. Senator Paloma Valencia, of the Democratic Center, led a debate in which she raised questions about the possibility that the infiltration of dissidents into key security and defense bodies is part of a political pact, which has generated deep tensions around peace policy and the management of national security.
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Investigations are not limited to the military domain. The Attorney General’s Office has opened proceedings against the named officials, while the DNI is conducting internal and external investigations, including an independent investigation led by the Inspector General, appointed directly by the president. The United States, a key security ally, has asked Colombia to fully investigate the indicated links, given the strategic importance of bilateral cooperation.
The journalistic report that sparked the scandal revealed data on communications, information transfers and alleged political and financial deals between leaders and members of the dissidents. Among the most controversial aspects is the possibility that the armed group financed electoral campaigns, which aroused rejection and distrust among public opinion and political sectors. The Colombian government insists on transparency and the application of “zero tolerance” against any illegal act, even if the seriousness of the accusations opened a debate on the effectiveness of institutional controls and the vulnerability of the State to the infiltration of criminal structures.
Civil society and the international community have demanded transparency and robust results, given the strategic importance of bilateral security cooperation. The crisis has placed at the center of the agenda the need to strengthen trust in institutions and guarantee the integrity of the State, fundamental aspects of the peace process and democratic stability.
The Colombian government insists on transparency and the application of “zero tolerance” to any illegal act
In this context, the government announced the application of energetic measures and the opening of exhaustive investigations, in order to clarify the facts and punish those responsible. Society expects strong responses and measures that strengthen trust in institutions and guarantee the integrity of the State, fundamental aspects of the peace process and democratic stability.