Colombian police asked a judge Monday to investigate guerrilla alias “Ancizar” or “Monazo,” a commander of the FARC’s 15th Front, for the kidnapping of French journalist Romeo Langlois and the death of four soldiers.
The rebel leader, who read a statement in a video Saturday confirming the FARC was holding the French reporter captive, is wanted on charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated murder, rebellion and terrorism.
In the video, Ancizar claimed his guerrillas killed 17 Colombian soldiers in the fighting that injured Langlois and led to his capture. Colombian authorities put the number at four.
The FARC commander said the guerrillas found out about Langlois’ identity as a journalist through the media and were hoping for a quick “solution to the impasse.”
Langlois went missing April 28 when the army platoon he was embedded with came under FARC attack, wounding the journalist in the arm. He was in the southern department of Caqueta filming a documentary about antinarcotics operations for news channel France 24.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos promised “to provide all necessary facilities for the release [of Langlois] to occur as soon as possible,” in a statement Monday.