Colombia’s prosecutor general is investigating video footage that has emerged showing an alleged meeting between a local former politician in Colombia’s Casanare department and paramilitary leader “El Boyaco.”
In the video Milton Alvarez, a former deputy for the Casanare department’s assembly, is seen speaking with a camouflaged man, who authorities say is Miguel Leguizamon, alias “El Boyaco,” a paramilitary boss and associate of regional paramilitary leader Martin Llanos.
Llanos is the son of Hector Buitrago, alias “El Patron,” who is believed to be one of the founders of the Centaurs Bloc of demobilized paramilitary coalition the AUC, and was arrested in April 2010.
Alvarez’s brother Javier Alvarez is the current mayor of Tauramena in Casanare. Anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Carlos Diaz Hernandez said witnesses have confirmed that the Alvarez brothers have ties to Martin Llanos.
Former paramilitary Gustavo Ramirez, alias “El Tabano,” has since 2008 made allegations that the region’s politicians are linked to paramilitaries, saying that “all Casanare politicians, including Milton Alvarez and his brother, met with Martin Llanos.”