'An attack on democracy': authorities increase the reward to up to $50 million for those responsible for the attack on RCN in Cali

NewsGovernor Dilian Francisca Toro will contribute $30 million, which adds to the 20 announced by the Mayor's Office. Attack against RCN in Cali. Authorities are conducting analyses of security cameras in the area to find those responsible for the incident. Photo: Juan Pablo Rueda / EL TIEMPOJOURNALIST11.11.2026 16:00 Updated: 11.11.2026 16:00 Following the attack perpetrated in the early hours of Tuesday, November 10, against the RCN facilities in the capital of Valle del Cauca, the governor of Valle del Cauca, Dilian Francisca Toro, categorically rejected the acts of violence and intimidation directed at the press and activated a joint reward fund to capture those responsible. The measure, coordinated between the Governor's Office and the Cali Mayor's Office, amounts to a total of 50 million pesos. Of this amount, up to 30 million pesos are contributed by the departmental administration, which add to the 20 million announced by the district government. The attack only caused material damage. Photo: Juan Pablo Rueda / EL TIEMPOThe regional leader was emphatic in pointing out that these criminal acts go beyond material damage and represent a direct threat to the lives of information professionals. "There is up to 50 million pesos in reward to find the people who are trying to target the media, journalists, because that was not aimed at infrastructure, it was aimed at the people who work, the journalists, those who inform every day," Toro declared. Amid the climate of tension caused by the recent threats faced by various media outlets in the country, the governor emphasized that "violence and intimidation cannot become tools to silence those who inform." For the departmental administration, silencing the press represents a direct risk to the country's institutions. "I believe this is also an attack on democracy, because we need journalists to inform us truthfully and objectively, and in that way to be able to know everything that happens in our country," the official stated. Finally, Dilian Francisca Toro ratified her absolute solidarity with the media and the journalistic profession, making an urgent call to the competent authorities to strengthen protection schemes and guarantee the free exercise of the press in the region. The joint response between the Valle del Cauca Governor's Office and the Cali Mayor's Office reflects the willingness of territorial administrations not to yield to events that seek to intimidate the press. The activation of the reward fund also seeks to encourage citizen collaboration so that, through timely and verifiable information, the authorities can unravel what happened and bring those responsible to justice. Context of intimidationThe announcement comes in a national context in which press freedom advocacy organizations have been warning about the increase in threats, harassment, and attacks against journalists and media outlets in various regions of the country, which has led to the practice of journalism being considered one of the highest-risk jobs in Colombia. From the Valle del Cauca Governor's Office, they reaffirmed that they will continue to support the region's journalists and that they will not allow events like those that occurred this week in Cali to become a mechanism to silence the truthful and objective information that citizens require. Follow 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 El Tiempo's WhatsApp channel 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 DIGITALReliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and access our journalistic content without limits.