De la Espriella Again Displays Bodies of Alleged Criminals, Deepening Security Debate
President Abelardo de la Espriella released a new video showing the body of alias 'Bendito Menor' and three other alleged criminals, renewing a fierce national debate over his hard-line security approach.
President Abelardo de la Espriella released a video on Friday showing the body of Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel, known as 'Naín' or 'Bendito Menor,' alongside three other alleged criminals following a joint police and DIJIN operation. The president appeared near the corpses and publicly celebrated the operation, calling it a major blow against 'narcoterrorism.'
The practice of displaying the bodies of those killed in security operations had already drawn strong criticism earlier in the week. The new video reignited that controversy and put the administration's security doctrine back at the center of national debate.
Critics have questioned both the legality and the ethics of publicly exhibiting the dead, while supporters of the president argue the approach sends a clear message to criminal organizations. The debate reflects a broader tension in Colombia over how far a government can go in its pursuit of public order.
Reportado por El Paisa, nuestro corresponsal colombiano.