The Defense and Interior ministers of Colombia announced the release of 28 police officers and one military personnel held since last Thursday in the department of Cauca by the organized armed group 'Carlos Patiño' and 'instrumentalized residents'. The uniformed officers 'are already walking towards freedom', said the Defense minister from Popayán, the capital of Cauca.
Benedetti sent a message to the farmers of the Micay Canyon to warn them about armed groups spreading false information regarding forced eradications of coca crops by the Government. The Defense minister indicated that, following the instructions of President Gustavo Petro, farmers will be protected by the Public Force and criminals will be fought against decisively.
Gustavo Petro has mentioned that farming families who depend on selling coca to the cartels have the option to join the voluntary illicit crop substitution program, which will provide them with economic support and assistance to develop projects with legal crops and promote peace in the country.
The Interior minister explained that the release was achieved thanks to the joint work between both ministries, the Military Forces, the Police, and the Ombudsman’s Office of Cauca, with the cooperation of the United Nations, the Catholic Church, the Mission of Support for the Peace Process in Colombia of the Organization of American States, and the Human Rights network.
Ministers Sánchez and Benedetti traveled to Cauca to ensure the release of the 29 members of the Public Force.