Two campaign staff members working for Colombian right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella were fatally shot just two weeks ahead of the nation’s presidential election, according to his political party Defenders of the Homeland on Saturday.
The victims, Rogers Mauricio Devia and Fabian Cardona, were gunned down Friday evening in a countryside location in Cubarral, Meta province. According to the party, four masked individuals riding motorcycles stopped the men and began shooting.
Devia, who previously served as mayor of Cubarral, was responsible for managing De La Espriella’s regional campaign efforts, while Cardona handled logistical support. The pair had been traveling back from Villavicencio on a motorcycle carrying campaign supplies when the attack occurred.
“They were cowardly murdered in cold blood,” De La Espriella stated in a recorded message. While officials have not attributed the killings to any specific armed organization, De La Espriella pointed fingers at a breakaway group from the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, though he offered no supporting evidence.
In polling data, De La Espriella holds the second position behind leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda before the May 31 initial voting round. His campaign platform emphasizes aggressive tactics against guerrilla fighters, criminal organizations and narcotics operations, including bombing rebel locations and restarting airplane spraying of coca plantations.
De La Espriella has previously claimed there was a sniper plot targeting his life that involved members of government intelligence services.
Colombian voters will choose the replacement for President Gustavo Petro. Should no candidate secure over 50% of the vote, a second round of voting is scheduled for June 21.
