The Ombudswoman, Iris Marín, confirmed that they are accompanying the family of the young peasant who was presented by the Government as killed in combat.

News Video: The official stated that it was a young peasant who had barely turned 18. In early September, President Abelardo De La Esperilla provided details of the operation against the ACSN. Photo: Courtesy JOURNALIST 02.10.2026 13:21 Updated: 02.10.2026 13:29 From Cartagena de Indias, the Ombudswoman, Iris Marín, confirmed that the institution is supporting the family of Ricardo Andrés Rodríguez Martínez, the young man who was presented by the National Government as killed in combat in the department of Magdalena, during operations against the Autodefensas de la Sierra Nevada, the criminal group that has plagued the north of the country and that staged an armed strike the previous week. "He was barely of legal age, he was 18 years old. Indeed, the family states that the young man had only been working for 15 days on a nearby farm and that he was not a combatant, nor did he in any way accompany or participate in the hostilities, nor did he belong to the so-called Conquistadores de la Sierra," said Iris Marín, Ombudswoman. READ ALSO The official made an appeal regarding the procedures of the Public Force and the management of the Ministry of Defense after the complaints, made by the victim's family, surrounding the death of a young peasant came to light. "We have been supporting the family, also requesting all the evidence, from Legal Medicine, and above all asking the Prosecutor's Office, which is the competent authority, to verify the circumstances, and requesting from the Public Force the information on the operation and all the details," Marín added. According to the testimony of his relatives and human rights defenders accompanying the case, the young man was not a combatant nor did he belong to the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN), but rather had been working for only two weeks on a farm near the area of the confrontation. "The body was presented, along with other bodies of people who died in this operation, in a white duffel bag in the presence of the President of the Republic. It is something we have already been calling for reflection on and questioning about this practice," said the Ombudswoman. READ ALSO The alarms were raised not only by the alleged death of a civilian uninvolved in the hostilities, but also by the subsequent treatment of the evidence and the mortal remains. Dissidents killed in combat. Photo: Army The case was controversial because during the presentation of the results of the operation, the President of the Republic walked among the lifeless bodies of the presumed criminals who had been taken down, which were among white bags, and among which the young peasant would be. This fact generated a harsh ethical and legal reflection on the public display of deceased persons in the context of the armed conflict and the impact on due process before the judicial authorities determine the condition of the fallen. READ ALSO They demand speed from the Prosecutor's Office and protection protocols for the civilian population Iris Marín Ortiz, Ombudswoman; Abelardo De La Espriella, president-elect. Photo: Archive El Tiempo "If he were a young civilian, barely of legal age, innocent, this practice of the President of the Republic would be much more serious. We hope the authorities will clarify. For now we are supporting the family and hopefully the truth will soon be known. But in any case, a call to the Public Force and the Ministry of Defense to take all precautions to prevent civilians from ending up dying in military operations. All relevance must be given to these complaints to prevent them from starting to become normal," the Ombudswoman emphasized. If it is confirmed that the victim was an innocent resident, the presentation of his body before the highest authorities of the State would constitute an institutional gravity without precedent. "These complaints cannot be minimized or normalized," the official insisted. In addition, we invite you to watch: Documentary by journalist Jineth Bedoya. Photo: JOHN MONTAÑO Correspondent for EL TIEMPO, Cartagena Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERS Register for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed with what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWS Follow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Always stay up to date with the latest news, coverage, stories and analysis directly on Google News. EL TIEMPO WHATSAPP Join El Tiempo's WhatsApp channel to stay up to date with the most relevant news as it happens. EL TIEMPO APP Stay informed with the EL TIEMPO app. Receive the latest news, coverage, stories and analysis directly on your device. SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL Reliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and access our journalistic content without limits.