Bogota. In a military ceremony carried out in the Parade field of the Military School of Cadets General José María Córdova, chaired by the President of the Republic, Iván Duque Márquez, General Eduardo Enrique Zapateiro Altamiranda assumed as commander of the National Army. He will have the responsibility of commanding more than 230,000 men and women who daily guarantee the territorial security of the country, in compliance with the constitutional mandate, and under the precepts of respect and compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law.
In his statements, the President of the Republic acknowledged the operation that the National Army has been carrying out for more than 200 years to guarantee the security in Colombia, with important results against illegal activities and criminal groups who intend to destabilize the nation.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defense (in charge), General Luis Fernando Navarro Jiménez, the senior members of the military and police, as well as members of the diplomatic delegations in the country.
Major General Eduardo Zapateiro has served Colombia for 34 years as a soldier and commander in different units throughout the national territory. He knows first-hand the importance of operational effectiveness, attached to compliance with the Constitution and the laws that support the protection of all Colombians.
Major General Eduardo Enrique Zapateiro Altamiranda has a comprehensive academic background. He has a Master’s degree in Security and National Defense, and advance Military Studies. He has comprehensive knowledge of the national territory, as commander he has traveled by the country in the exercise of his duties in various units. He is recognized for being the one who planned and led the Operation Fenix in March 2008, in which the second in command of FARC, Luis Édgar Devia Silva, alias Raúl Reyes was neutralized.
At the same ceremony, General Nicacio de Jesús Martínez Espinel, outgoing commander of the National Army, received honors by the troops at the Parade field “Batalla de Boyacá” of the General José María Córdova Military School of Cadets.
Source: National Army
