A Colombian politician who was released from house arrest Tuesday after evidence about his involvement in his own kidnapping proved false, praised Tuesday the Colombian judiciary for releasing him and said his reputation would be restored.
After his release, former Valle del Cauca deputy Lopez compared his detention to his years in FARC captivity between 2002 and 2008.
“They were both hard tests […] in the jungle we were resisting and we knew they would receive us as heroes.”
The politician said recovering his “honor and good name” would be “difficult.”
Lopez was together with 11 other deputies kidnapped by FARC guerrillas in 2002. All apart from Lopez were killed while in captivity. A video showing a shadowy figure detailing security in the building where the 12 political representatives were later kidnapped was found in the computer of killed FARC leader “Alfonso Cano.” Colombia’s Prosecutor General said the figure’s facial features corresponded to those of Lopez.
Lopez asked for an investigation against the prosecutor who accused him of collaborating with his guerrilla kidnappers.
“Prosecutor 38 is mistaken. He acted in bad faith. He has to explain to the country why he acted in this manner,” Lopez concluded.