One of the FARC leaders most wanted by Panama died in Colombia’s air strike against the guerrilla group’s 57th Front on Monday, Colombian authorities confirmed Wednesday.
Jorge Posada Medina, alias “Ignacio” or “Pipon,” was accused of planting landmines that killed several Panamanian officials, and was also wanted for drug trafficking. The guerrilla, who was a leader of the 57th Front, was sentenced to 36 years jail by Colombia for his role in a battle that killed 74 people in Bojaya, Choco, in 2002.
Monday’s bombing attack, part of Operation Darien, was carried out by Colombian police and military on the FARC camp just one kilometer from the border with Panama.
Operation Darien followed a series of major blows against the FARC by the government of Juan Manuel Santos, including the death of the rebels’ second-in-command “Mono Jojoy.”