The Specific Command of Cauca, an organic unit of the Third Division of the National Army, confirmed the murder of the professional soldiers Jorge David Fuentes, native of Valledupar, César; Javier Sosa Ballesteros, from La Mesa, Cundinamarca, and Camilo Andrés Molina, from Galeras, Sucre, in the midst of events that occurred in Argelia, southern Cauca.
It should be remembered that a group of uniformed officers patrolling the rural area contacted WEEK on the afternoon of Friday, May 3, 2024, begging for help to avoid dying in the midst of the clashes. In the audios that were sent to the media, the desperation produced by the ruthless attack of the criminal groups was evident and they urgently requested air support.
They wanted the ghost plane deployment to be carried out to support them, as they felt cornered. WEEK He learned that the group was made up of 12 soldiers, of which half of them were affected by the attack.
These combats took place after the neutralization of three of its members in events on May 2 and the subsequent capture in flagrante of five more members yesterday, from whom their weapons, explosives, ammunition and equipment were seized. intendancy.
The Army reported: “At the time when the air operation was planned to extract the apprehended personnel and with the aim of protecting the lives of these individuals, the troops were attacked from different points, thus beginning the fighting in this sector of the country.” , they explain in the statement.
Among the details they provide, it is read that the troops deployed were supported with powerful artillery fire, managing to repel the attack. Furthermore, with the purpose of securing the area and the integrity of the wounded personnel, the troops used techniquestactics and procedures to safeguard their lives and position themselves in a safe place, in accordance with military doctrine and the adverse weather conditions of the area.
The Army indicated this Saturday, May 4, that the troops of the Rapid Deployment Force No. 4 were carrying out offensive military operations to counteract the criminal actions of illegal armed groups in the south of the department and guarantee the return of more than 400 Displaced inhabitants of the San Juan del Cucho, San Juan de Guadua and Bolivia villages. The fighting was taking place two days ago, between the military and FARC dissidents belonging to the Carlos Patiño column, in the Bolivian village.
Apart from the uniformed personnel who unfortunately lost their way, three more were injured, who are stable and will be evacuated from the area to receive specialized medical care.
At this time, the commander of the Military Forces, General Helder Fernán Giraldo Bonilla, is arriving in Popayán to personally verify the situation. and lead the counteroffensive and the strengthening of the security device in that area of the south of the department of Cauca.
The five captured members of the Carlos Patiño group were left at the disposal of the competent authorities.
Finally, the National Army regretted the death “of our brave soldiers, who died within the framework of the operations carried out to ensure the safety and tranquility of the residents of the Micay Canyon, Therefore, we reiterate our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones at this difficult time.”
This was the heartbreaking conversation that took place between one of the uniformed men and his commander and that reached the newsroom of WEEK:
- Colonel: So where can you defend yourself? That’s why I tell you, stick where Rodríguez is or if not, jump into the hole. Evasion and escape, jump into the hole, jump into the hole, evasion and escape.
- Soldier: If I jump into the hole, they kill me, they kill me, they kill me.
- Colonel: So, go out to where Rodríguez is, brother, go out to where Rodríguez is.
- Soldier: You can’t, my colonel, you can’t, my colonel. Rodríguez is stumped, we are all stumped on all points.
