Colombia’s national coroner’s office confirmed Thursday that the body of a FARC rebel killed during combat in December is that of an important commander accused of killing four hostages.
“Arturo Rojas,” second-in-command of the FARC’s 63rd Front, was responsible for guarding captured members of the Colombian armed forces. Authorities said the rebel ordered the execution of three policemen and one army soldier in November 2011 in the limits between the southern Caqueta and Putumayo departments.
Rojas entered the FARC in 1978 and became commander of the organization’s 48th Front nine years later. In 2006, the killed FARC commander “Mono Jojoy” assigned him to the 63rd, which according to the authorities was responsible for guarding kidnapped soldiers and policemen.
MORE: ‘FARC executes 4 hostages in botched rescue attempt’