Former Senator Piedad Cordoba, who fled the country after allegedly receiving death threats, was protected by at least eight bodyguards, the Colombian government said Monday.
According to Interior Minister German Vargas Lleras, the controversial ex-senator never alerted the authorities about any death threats or suspicious people following her, as she claimed.
Following her departure, Cordoba and her defense attorney said the alleged threats were the result of verbal attacks by former President Alvaro Uribe and the lack of response from current President Juan Manuel Santos.
The ex-senator and her daughter fled the country Thursday to an unknown location. The former senator is highly controversial in Colombia, where she is facing charges for ties to guerrilla group FARC. She and her peace group “Colombians for Peace” have brokered the release of several hostages held by the guerrillas.