President Gustavo Petro confirmed that they neutralized alias Cholinga, leader of the Isaías Pardo bloc in Cauca.

The Joint Special Operations Command on Tuesday killed Wilmar Pazu Rivera, alias Cholinga, the leader of the Central General Staff of the FARC dissidents in Cauca.

This information was confirmed by President Gustavo Petro, who stated that Pazu was the perpetrator of the latest attacks in the area.

“The CCOES neutralized alias Cholinga, leader of the Isaías Pardo bloc of the Jacobo Arenas Western Bloc of the EMC in Cauca , in the Central Mountain Range, Páez municipality, Las Dalias village. The intelligence was gathered by the National Police and the Army. Congratulations.”

And he added: “ A mastermind of death, of injuries to civilians and of recruiting minors in Cauca fell .”

The attack by the security forces was also highlighted by Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez. The minister stated that "Cholinga" was working for alias Iván Mordisco.

"I want to express my recognition to each of the brave soldiers who participated in the operation carried out in Páez, Cauca. Thanks to the coordinated work of the Joint Special Operations Command of our @FuerzasMilCol, together with the @PoliciaColombia, the @COL_EJERCITO, the @FuerzaAereaCol and our intelligence teams, alias Cholinga, the main leader of the Isaías Pardo criminal block, belonging to the Jacobo Arenas structure, at the service of alias Mordisco, was neutralized," said the head of the Defense portfolio on his X account.

He also noted that Pazu Rivera had been appointed to consolidate a mobility corridor between Cauca and Huila, "key to the criminal activities of that organization. He was one of the main terrorists in the southwest of the country."

Within the criminal record of alias Cholinga, he is identified for:

"This result is a clear example that when we act with intelligence, coordination, and conviction, lives are saved, communities are protected, and criminal structures are weakened," said Minister Sánchez.

He also emphasized that fighting and operations continue in the area. "Our troops continue to fight with all the professionalism, courage, and commitment that characterizes them," he stated.

This Tuesday, Cauca and Valle del Cauca were the scene of terrorist attacks that resulted in 24 violent incidents, five civilian deaths, and two police officers killed. These were Police Patrolman Jair Gonzalo Gurrete Bolaños in Caloto, and Patrolman Duván Andrés Ramírez Cárdenas in Villa Rica, Cauca.

Following the terrorist escalation, 28 people were injured, including 19 civilians, 7 police officers, and 2 soldiers.

"In Valle del Cauca, 13 incidents occurred in the municipalities of Jamundí, Palmira, Buenaventura, and the city of Cali. In the department of Cauca, 10 terrorist acts were reported in the municipalities of Patía, Suárez, Toribío, Villa Rica , Timbiquí, Morales, Corinto, Caloto, and Buenos Aires," the National Police reported.

This Wednesday, President Petro will hold a meeting with the military and police leadership to address the public order situation in the southwest of the country.

Maria Alejandra Gonzalez Duarte