The Specific Command of Cauca, Military Unit of the Third Division of the National Army, according to preliminary information, informs:
1. On February 14, 2021, in the evening, troops of the Ground Operations Battalion No.12 of the Operational Command Apolo, in development of military operations, fought members of the Residual Organized Armed Group (GAO-r) Estructura Sexta Dagoberto Ramos Ortiz, in a sector near the village of Palo, municipality of Caloto, in the north of the department of Cauca.
2. In this military operation, a member of the Residual Organized Armed Group was killed. However members of the Indigenous Guard Toez allegedly handed over the body to the illegal group, which obstruct the judicial procedures that carry out the authorities.
3. The authorities will be informed of the incident in order to take the appropriate actions.
4. We reject these actions by those who obstruct the fulfillment of the constitutional mission of the National Army. However we will continue to conduct military operations to weaken the armed groups in order to preserve law and order in the area, provide support for the early alerts issued by the Ombudsman's Office and to guarantee security and wellbeing for the inhabitants in the department of Cauca.
