Colombia’s intelligence agency DAS admits its Political Coordinator was
investigating opposition senator Gustavo Petro, but says the official
was acting autonomously and never received orders to investigate the
lawmaker.
DAS director Maria del Pilar Hurtado Tuesday initially denied all accusations made by the Polo Democrático senator. According to Petro, Colombian President Álvaro Uribe personally instructed the intelligence agency to investigate the lawmaker and to see if there is evidence of him being involved with illegal armed groups.
After a meeting between Uribe and del Pilar, the DAS director admitted the senator was being investigated, but by a high official who was not following orders.
“The official told us it was him and he takes full responsibility. He never received an order by any of his superiors and I stress he never received the order directly from the President,” del Pilar said.
Del Pilar offers to take political responsibility for what happened and said the agency is disciplinarily investigating the matter.
Polo Democrático said it would take the case to international courts and foreign parliaments, stressing it feels persecuted by the government.