Barranquilla and Atlántico cases in "Book of Truth" scrutinize energy, prisons, and subsidies

A government document known as the "Book of Truth" has brought to light sensitive cases in Barranquilla and the Atlántico region, focusing on energy, prisons, and subsidies. The "EL TIEMPO" newspaper identified references within the document to the crisis at energy provider Air-e, resources allocated for prison expansion, and the intervention of Comfamiliar, a significant social entity.

These cases, spanning distinct sectors, share a common thread: interrogations into resource management, control mechanisms, and administrative decisions made under the previous government. The document suggests these matters warrant review by competent authorities.

One particularly sensitive issue involves the prison system. Audits of the Uspec (Unit for the Attention and Follow-up of Cases of Persons Deprived of Liberty) and the Inpec (National Penitentiary and Prison Institute) revealed findings with an economic impact of nearly $78.5 billion Colombian pesos. This includes payments approved for non-existent works, specifically mentioning prison capacity expansion in Barranquilla associated with approximately $8.9 billion pesos.

This revelation contrasts sharply with Barranquilla's reality, where the El Bosque Penitentiary has become a symbol of the Caribbean region's prison crisis. The facility has suffered from critical overcrowding, housing around 1,500 inmates despite a design capacity for just over 600, resulting in over 230% overcrowding. Previous warnings from control bodies, judicial authorities, and the Inpec itself highlighted the dire conditions, exacerbated by riots and fires in 2025. The "Book of Truth's" mention of funds for capacity expansion raises questions about what happened to these works and why the infrastructure remained insufficient.