Congressman asks Santos to remove ‘questionable’ ambassadors

Colombia News - Ivan Cepeda

Congressman Ivan Cepeda has asked Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to remove five of the country’s ambassadors for grave misconduct, local media reported Friday.

Congressman Cepeda, from Polo Democratico, has asked the head of state to remove Jorge Visbal Martelo, ambassador to Peru, from his post, as he is being investigated by Prosecutor General Viviane Morales for alleged links to paramilitary leaders.

In a letter to Santos,Cepeda made the same request regarding Cesar Mauricio Velasquez, ambassador to the Vatican, who is being investigated as part of the illegal wiretapping scandal.

Cepeda added that the Colombian ambassadors to the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and the Organization of American States all have judicial proceedings against them, and should thus be relieved of their posts.

Cepeda said that the government committed an error by appointing Colombian ambassadors with such questionable records.

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