Pablo Escobar’s former lover Virginia Vallejo might sue Colombian television network Caracol because producers of a series based on the late drug lord’s life never received permission to include her as a character.
Seeing as her character is a very important part of Pablo Escobar’s story, Caracol decided to incorporate Vallejo’s character under the name of “Regina Parejo” played by Angie Cepeda. The series, entitled “Pablo Escobar: The Boss of Evil,” premiered in late May, breaking Colombian television records.
Although Colombia Reports was unable to contact Vallejo to confirm the rumors, several local media sources reported that Escobar’s former love interest is searching for an attorney to represent her after Abelardo De la Espriella, a well-known attorney, refused to take her case.
In an interview, De la Espriella explained that he would not represent Vallejo because “she testified against my friend Alberto Santofimio, in such a way that I can’t assist a person who has declared herself an enemy to someone I know and appreciate.”
Santofimio is a former minister that was convicted of masterminding the 1989 assassination of fellow presidential candidate, Luis Carlos Galan in 2007. His conviction was overturned a year later for lack of material evidence. In August 2011, Supreme Court judges decided to ratify the original decision, sending Santofimio back to jail not only for the murder of Galan, but also for two others who were killed at the same time.
A former drug trafficker testified that Santofimio asked Escobar’s Medellin Cartel to facilitate the murder, claiming that the drug kingpin would be extradited to the U.S. if Galan was elected president.
Colombia’s Supreme Court rejected another appeal from Santofimio’s legal team in March. His lawyers said that his initial conviction should be thrown out because, as an elected political official, Santifimio should have been tried by the Supreme Court instead of the High Court of Cundinamarca.