Two Huilenses were exalted yesterday in the Departmental Assembly of Huila, with the ‘Rodrigo Lara Bonilla Order’, the first was the rear admiral, Beatriz Elena García, the first woman in Colombia to hold this position, and the second, Jairo Fernando Fierro, Third Judge From neiva. At the same event, commemorative events were held in memory of Rodrigo Lara Bonilla.
María Alejandra Ruiz Mallungo X-@amperiodista
“This recognition represents great pride and gratitude for the enormous legacy that Dr. Rodrigo Lara Bonilla has left us to continue working for the construction of a country in righteousness and in compliance with the rules,” said Beatriz Elena García, first woman in Colombian history to reach the rank of Rear Admiral of the Colombian Navy, head of the Legal Headquarters and who yesterday received the ‘Rodrigo Lara Bonilla Order’ decoration from the Government of Huila.
This exaltation took place in the commemoration event that the Government of Huila, headed by Governor Rodrigo Villalba Mosquera, held in honor of Rodrigo Lara Bonilla, a staunch defender of justice, who in his life fought against drug trafficking in Colombia, fight which led to his death at the hands of hitmen in Bogotá, 40 years ago.
Courage and pride
Daughter of Hernán García and Mery Restrepo, from whose union her two older brothers were also born, Jorge Enrique and Carlos Hernán. Being very little, Beatriz and her entire family settled in the city of Neiva in the department of Huila, it is there where she lived throughout her childhood and youth. She eventually decides to travel to Armenia, where she graduates from the Universidad La Gran Colombia as a lawyer.
Her husband, Marine Captain Mauricio Estrada Durán, died 20 years ago on a service mission, leaving Beatriz with her two daughters, María Alejandra and Sofía, of whom she feels “very proud.” However, despite the pain of her loss, she, far from abandoning her projects and with the unconditional support of her family and her daughters, continued her career in the Navy.
“I have had an institution that has completely valued me, values my dedication, my efforts and has allowed me to professionalize and study different specializations, master’s degrees and has seen the love and service that I have for Colombia. But also that dedication that I give to my work; (I have) combined it with my daily work as a mother, which I also am,” comments Rear Admiral García, regarding her work as an officer of the Nation and as her mother.
I have had an institution that has fully valued me, values my dedication, my efforts and has allowed me to professionalize and study different specializations.
Trajectory
Beatriz inherited her love for the National Navy from her father, as he had spent his last two years of high school at the institution. After graduating, at that same time the Colombian Navy had opened calls for the entry of new cadets; With the complete financial and emotional help of her parents, the now rear admiral of the Navy, she fulfilled her “dream,” to enter the institution.
“During my career at the institution I have held different positions in my specialty, which is Law; I have been a military Criminal Judge, military Criminal Prosecutor, Legal Advisor to the command of the Almirante Padilla Naval Cadet School in Cartagena and now I am the head of the Legal Headquarters of our institution; “in charge of everything that has to do with the legal aspect so that the Constitution and the law are complied with in each of the procedures.”
He also assured that “every day there is a challenge in the institution, it is a supremely dynamic career, that is why we must be very attentive and highly trained to be able to face each of those situations that require us to act with urgency and responsibility.”
Proud Huilense
For the rear admiral, her strong roots with Huila “is a source of pride,” and she urged the entire Opita community to “work responsibly day by day for each of their dreams, so that the fruits are reflected as they perform each task with responsibility at work and with love for our institution or the profession we develop; The important thing is to be constant and disciplined, to keep moving forward, no matter the adversity.”
Exaltation of the work for Neivan justice
The Third Judge of Execution of Penalties and Security Measures of Neiva, Jairo Fernando Fierro Cadena, received the ‘Rodrigo Lara Sánchez Order’ exaltation during the same event, for his hard work and sense of justice in the Huila region. “An honor as a Huila native is the exaltation of Doctor Rodrigo Lara Bonilla, who fought against corruption and a correct and prompt administration of justice,” he expressed about this recognition.
The ‘Rodrigo Lara Bonilla’ Award, created by the Government of Huila, exalts the actions that have been taken in favor of the correct application of justice, especially against drug trafficking, the rehabilitation of drug addicts or those who have contributed positively to the search and consolidation of public peace.
