Director of the ANT spoke out after the resignation of the official who appeared in a video cooking an armadillo: 'No one is above the law'

NewsLina María Garrido stated that she demanded Yordy Medina's resignation and that the agency will address the requirements of the Attorney General's Office. The director of the ANT spoke out regarding the official's resignation. Photo: National Land Agency/Social media.16.10.2026 18:43 Updated: 16.10.2026 18:43 On the afternoon of this Friday, October 15, the director of the National Land Agency (ANT), Lina María Garrido, broke her silence on the case of Yordy Medina Noriega, the advisor to her office who appeared in a video cooking an armadillo and who resigned the day before. In a post on the ANT's social media, Garrido stated that "after the known events involving Yordy Medina, advisor to the General Directorate, I demanded his resignation" and that the agency's legal office will initiate the corresponding disciplinary investigations. The director added that "in public service, trust is honored with responsibility and with actions" and that, likewise, "no one is above the Constitution or the law." In public service, trust is honored with responsibility and with actions. No one is above the Constitution or the law. The competent authorities will determine the corresponding responsibilities. As a Government, we have a duty to set an example and to work so that politics changes forever.— National Land Agency (@AgenciaTierras) October 16, 2026 In the video, the official stated that public service demands "responsibility, character, and coherence" and that the country needs public servants who are aware of the commitment they assumed when accepting a position in this Government. She recalled that President Abelardo De La Espriella has been clear that officials came to work, to answer for their decisions, and to live up to the trust the country has placed in them. According to Garrido, the trust of citizens "is honored with decisions and with actions." In turn, she indicated that the country project they are promoting "cannot falter in the face of acts that transgress the principles" that public servants swore to defend, and she sent a message to the rest of the team, asserting that "politics must change and everyone must set an example." SEE ALSO Requirements from the Attorney General's Office and resignationGarrido announced that the ANT will address as a priority the requirements already made by the Attorney General's Office in this case, among them Medina's employment certification, with his 2026 salary and the dates of his appointment, swearing-in, and resignation. Lina María Garrido, director of the ANT. Photo: ANTIn addition, she explained that the agency's Legal Office, in its autonomy, will initiate the corresponding disciplinary investigations, adding that it will be the competent authorities that determine the responsibilities. "As a Government, we have a duty to set an example," she wrote in the post. The statement comes after the advisor's departure became known, effective as of this Friday. The ANT's resolution, published on Thursday, October 15, accepted Medina's "free and voluntary" resignation; he had been appointed on August 26 and took office on September 1. SEE ALSO The video behind the controversy in the caseThe recording, which circulated starting Wednesday, October 14, showed Medina cooking a "cachicamo" in Bogotá, an animal known as an armadillo, which is classified as a protected species. Video of the official cooking an armadillo. Photo: EL TIEMPO. Immediately, reactions of outrage spread across social media. Several congresswomen called for sanctions against the official, questioned the ANT's commitment to wildlife protection, and even filed a complaint about the case with the Prosecutor's Office and the Attorney General's Office. SEE ALSO The latter oversight body announced on Thursday, October 15 that it had opened a disciplinary inquiry in its initial stage, considering the category to which the animal belongs, and asked the Ministry of the Environment and the CAR of Cundinamarca to certify the species and whether its consumption is permitted in Bogotá. María Alejandra Mesa MunévarLAST NEWS DESKFollow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERSSign up for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed about what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWSFollow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Always stay up to date with the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on Google News. EL TIEMPO WHATSAPPJoin the El Tiempo channel on WhatsApp to stay up to date with the most relevant news as it happens. EL TIEMPO APPStay informed with the EL TIEMPO app. Receive the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on your device. SUBSCRIBE TO THE DIGITAL EDITIONReliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and access our journalistic content without limits.