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Colombian Ombudsman investigated for alleged leaks to ELN guerrilla
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Colombian Ombudsman investigated for alleged leaks to ELN guerrilla

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Colombian Ombudsman for Ocaña, Ever Pallares Baene, resigned amid an investigation into alleged information leaks to the ELN guerrilla group.
  • The investigation stems from a complaint that confidential information about social leaders, matching an ELN threat, was leaked from his office.
  • Pallares Baene denies the allegations, stating his resignation was also to prepare for upcoming municipal elections.

The Ombudsman for the Colombian city of Ocaña, Ever Pallares Baene, has resigned from his post following an investigation into allegations of leaking information to the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group. The Ombudsman's office confirmed the investigation into conduct potentially attributable to the regional Ombudsman.

The entity had knowledge that the authorities are investigating conduct presumably attributable to the Regional Defender of Ocaña, which is why the official submitted his resignation from the position.

— The Ombudsman's officeConfirming the investigation and the reason for the official's resignation.

The entity stated that Pallares Baene's resignation "allows for the preservation of institutional trust and for the judicial action to proceed without any interference." The office pledged full cooperation with the authorities.

According to reports, the Attorney General's office initiated a preliminary investigation after a complaint alleged that "confidential information about social leaders" was leaked from the Ocaña regional Ombudsman's office. This information reportedly matched a threatening message attributed to the ELN received in February 2025 by a human rights defender.

The resignation allows for the preservation of institutional trust and for the judicial action to proceed without any interference. For this purpose, we will provide all the collaboration that may be required by the authorities.

— The Ombudsman's officeExplaining the rationale behind accepting the resignation.

The alleged threat, supposedly from the ELN's Northeastern War Front, contained precise details about the defender's humanitarian and legal work, information that the complainant claimed was only known in real-time by the Ombudsman's office and the National Army.

I am transparent and I am available to appear before the Fiscalía so that it can conduct the corresponding investigation.

— Ever Pallares BaeneResponding to the allegations and expressing willingness to cooperate.

Pallares Baene has responded to the accusations, identifying the complainant as someone who has reported alleged ELN threats and asserting that the Ombudsman's office has always been attentive to providing necessary protection. He stated his willingness to cooperate fully with the Fiscalía. He also mentioned that his decision to resign, effective August 25, was partly to avoid disqualification from competing in the October 2027 municipal and regional elections. He further addressed questions about his family ties to an ELN leader, arguing that familial connections do not imply personal culpability.

No one is to blame for having the cousins they have.

— Ever Pallares BaeneAddressing questions about his family ties to an ELN leader.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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