Colombia’s Abelardo de la Espriella says soldiers killed key dissident leader

A prominent leader of the dissident factions of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia who operated in a volatile area in the country’s southwest region was killed on Sunday during a military operation, said President Abelardo de la Espriella.

The president said the death of a man known as “Felipe” or “Arcadio” was a “crushing blow” to the dissident faction led by a man who goes by “Ivan Mordisco”.

De la Espriella posted a video on social media presumably showing a person in a body bag near a weapon and ammunition seized by authorities during the operation.

“We are closing the net on Mordisco and his networks,” warned the president, who announced that offensive operations against illegal armed groups would continue. “Any criminal who doesn’t surrender will end up in a body bag.”

He said “Felipe” was responsible for multiple attacks on police stations in Valle del Cauca, using explosives dropped from drones. He commanded a unit within the Jaime Martinez faction, part of the dissident groups of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) that refused to join the government’s 2016 peace negotiations.

The leader also took part in planting explosives-laden gas cylinders on roads in Valle del Cauca, attacking a military unit, torching cars, engaging in extortion and committing other criminal acts, de la Espriella said.