Major General (r) Marcos Evangelista Pinto, born in Bucaramanga and who was commander of the Second Division of the National Army (2020-2021), was one of the 35 soldiers charged by the JEP for the subcase of false positives in Huila.

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace, JEP, decided to charge 35 soldiers for cases of false positives that occurred in the department of Huila between 2005 and 2008.

Among the list of defendants are five generals, among them Major General (r) Marcos Evangelista Pinto Lizarazo, Bumangué by birth and who between 2020 and 2021 was commander of the Second Division of the National Army, which operates in Los Santanderes, Arauca, Boyacá, César, Bolívar.

In addition to Pinto Lizarazo, four senior officers were charged by this jurisdiction for “war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

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These cases of false positives, according to the JEP, occurred in the jurisdiction of the Ninth Brigade of the National Army, between 2005 and 2008, in which there were nearly 200 homicides of people who were presented as combat casualties, but who in They were not actually in combat.

According to the JEP, the active and retired soldiers who were charged belonged to the Infantry Battalion No. 26 ‘Cacique Pigoanza’, the Infantry Battalion No. 27 ‘Magdalena’, the Urban Special Forces Group No. 11 and the Ninth Brigade that operates in the department of Huila.

For this reason, the JEP called several high-ranking officers to acknowledge responsibilities, including Major General Miguel Pérez Guarnizo, General (r) Jaime Lasprilla Villamizar and Brigadier General William Pérez Laiseca.

While as co-authors, the call went to the major generals (r) Édgar Rodríguez Sánchez and Marcos Evangelista Pinto Lizarazo.

The decision was announced this Monday, November 20. In it, the JEP indicated that “192 of the 264 deaths reported by these military units, between 2005 and 2008, were actually homicides committed against people out of combat.” In other words, according to the JEP, 73% of the operational results presented were false.

What’s next for the soldiers accused by the JEP

After notification of this decision, the 35 accused soldiers have a period of 30 business days to acknowledge the facts, their responsibility or reject it. According to the JEP, they could also react to this determination, providing arguments or some additional evidence.

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As soon as the time is up, the JEP will decide whether to establish a date for a Public Hearing for Recognition of Truth, considering that there is recognition and contribution to the full truth.

According to the JEP, these hearings would be prepared and developed with the participation of the victims. But in the event that the military denies its responsibility in the case, it will refer the case to the Investigation and Prosecution Unit, UIA of the JEP.