The 4th-in-command of the FARC’s 17th Front has been killed in central Colombia, local media reported Thursday.
Alleged FARC commander “Manuel” was killed during combat with the Colombian army in the Neiva municipality, located in the northern part of the south-central Huila department.
The commander of the Colombian Armed Forces, general Alejandro Navas, said two other guerrillas who formed a part of Manuel’s security ring were captured in the same operation.
“The neutralization of commanders continues to be one of the goals of the offensive and is one of the most important interests of the Armed Forces. So far this year 16 FARC commanders have been neutralized, including the capture of alias ‘Marquetaliano,’ member of the Central Command [of the FARC],” said Navas.
According to police sources, alias Manuel, whose real name is Martín Emilio Fuentes Garcia, had been designated by the FARC’s Eastern Bloc to organize “terrorist actions” in the northern part of Huila.
The 17th Front is one of the oldest fighting units of the FARC. It has around 150 armed members and is led by José Orlando Ortiz, alias “Hector Comitida.”