Bello municipality explains officials' use of balaclavas during public space operation

The municipality of Bello, in Colombia's Antioquia department, has clarified the use of balaclavas by public space officials during a recent operation. Videos circulating on social media showed municipal employees wearing the masks while recovering public space in the Cabañas neighborhood on May 19, sparking public inquiry.

The municipal administration stated that some members of the Public Space Operations Directorate employ these garments as a protective measure. This decision stems from threats and the potential for reprisals they face due to their involvement in controlling and reclaiming public areas. The municipality cited articles 11 and 12 of the Political Constitution, which concern the protection of life and personal integrity, as well as a ruling by the Constitutional Court, to support their stance.

Officials involved in the operation reportedly wore visible institutional identification. The action was not improvised; it originated from a citizen request submitted in December 2025 and proceeded through a legal process, culminating in a police order issued on March 5, 2026, authorizing the immediate removal of items from public space. The establishment's owner was formally notified and did not appeal the decision.

The municipality emphasized that the intervention was limited to removing elements from areas designated as public space, refuting claims of an intrusion into private businesses. They noted that laws permit the control of elements on facades, roofs, and terraces when public space is improperly occupied. Items confiscated during the operation are held by the Public Space Operations Directorate, and the owner must complete administrative procedures to reclaim them. Bello has conducted 566 control activities in 2026 as part of its ongoing strategy to recover public spaces.