An anxious and excited Moncayo family are to arrive in Florencia, Caqueta on Monday evening, hopeful of a successful outcome to the ongoing hostage release operation, which would see Sgt. Pablo Emilio Moncayo freed after twelve years in captivity.
The family is accompanying Senator Piedad Cordoba as part of the group, Colombians for Peace, according to El Espectador.
“It’s exciting to see the joy of this family,” Cordoba said.
Bishop Leonardo Gomez Serna of Magangue, who is already in Florencia, confirmed that at 8am on Tuesday morning the two Brazilian helicopters would set off to bring Sgt. Moncayo home.
The decison to release the hostages was “an expression of peace by the FARC,” Bishop Serna said.
Senator Cordoba, who has been using twitter to post updates of the operation, will “ask for permission to take photos at the time of release in the jungle” in order to tweet them to followers.
This comes despite Cordoba saying last Wednesday that she would not be able to transmit up-to the-minute information because there was no signal in the jungle.
“For all those who are asking: Yes! You will know the minute that Sgt. Moncayo is released,” Cordoba added.
The FARC released soldier Josue Daniel Calvo on Sunday, after one year in captivity. Moncayo spent more than 12 years in the jungle.