At the promotion ceremony held at the José María Córdova Military Cadet School, President Iván Duque said that “audacity is to act decisively, without protagonism and, many times, without appropriating victories, but achieving the objective of the undeniable defense of our country and free our country from threats.”
He highlighted how the government in four years achieved the lowest homicide rate in the last four decades, the lowest kidnapping rate in the entire history of the country and the fact that more than 300 municipalities are reaching the end of the year with no murders.
Given the results obtained by the Military and Police Forces in 2021 in the fight against crime and drug trafficking, President Iván Duque said on Wednesday that “this year will be remembered as the year of audacity.”
At the promotion ceremony held at the José María Córdova Military Cadet School, the Head of State said that “our forces are united, more united than ever, more capable than ever, more committed than ever. The 21st year of the 21st century will be remembered as the year of audacity, and 2022 will in the same way be the year in which we will finish completing the task of liberating Colombia from the symbols of terror.”
In his speech at the parade field of the military training center in Bogotá, the President added that “this year 2021 is the year where the most feared structures of terrorism have been hit. We have seen it in every corner of the country, we have seen it when we surprise the enemy and we have seen it when the pride of all the men and women of our Military Forces shines.”
“Audacity is to act decisively, without protagonism and, many times, without appropriating victories, but achieving the objective of the undeniable defense of our country and free our country from threats.”
In this sense, he highlighted the blows dealt to criminal structures such as Los Caparros, the GAO Clan del Golfo, the Eln, Los Pelusos and the so-called Residual Organized Armed Groups or dissidents, as well as drug findings, the destruction of laboratories and the eradication of illicit plantations.
He in the same way highlighted how the Government, in four years, got the lowest murder rate of the past four decades, the lowest rate of kidnappings in the country's history and the fact that more than 300 municipalities are coming to the end of the year with no murders.
“The year is not over. We continue to work for the victory of our country, for the glory of our country,” the President emphasized.
In the same way, he congratulated the senior officers who were promoted to the grade of General and to them he said: “I am proud I can shake the hands of the generals that we have been honoring today, with this promotion, and with the distinction of service of 30 and 35 years. I can look at their eyes and tell them that I've been with them in the territory, that I accompanied on their missions, and that I can call them friends. All of them deserve the recognition of Colombia, all of them have the spirit and tenacity of the historical heroes who gave us freedom.”
*GAO: Organized Armed Groups in Spanish
Source: Government Information System
