A captured guerrilla, accused of being security chief to guerrilla leader “Alfonso Cano,” tells Colombian television the slain chief had too much confidence and lacked the mobility that could have prevented his death.
Tomas Garcia Escobar, alias “El Indio Efrain,” who was wounded and captured during Operation Odysseus that killed Cano, told regional television station Telepacifico that there was too much of a civilian presence in the area that Cano was hiding, and that moving around more would have prevented his death.
El Indio Efrain’s statement implies that civilians might have cooperated in the killing of Cano, however, according to President Juan Manuel Santos, members of the FARC’s own security ring had helped in their leader’s demise.
Colombia’s Defense Ministry is in the process of paying out $2.62 million to informants who are still among the guerrillas.
As the FARC’s presumed security chief, El Indio Efrain was responsible for the safety of Cano, and he handled all intelligence that would have possibly threatened the fallen leader.
When asked what he thought was going to happen after the death of Cano, the former security chief said that in his opinion, the war will not end.
El Indio Efrain is being treated at the University Hospital of Cali for injuries to his left arm and shoulder, and will be transferred to Villahermosa prison for the crime of rebellion, which he accepted on a judge’s imposition.