Two members of the crop substitution program in El Dovio are killed

The social leaders had already reported threats against them but, while the National Protection Unit was studying the warnings, they were killed.

Source El Espectador

Two social leaders who were part of the crop substitution program were murdered in the municipality of El Dovio, Valle del Cauca. The news was announced by the governor of the department, Dilian Francisca Toro, at the end of a security council that took place, in the presence of the Minister of Defense, Guillermo Botero, at the Marco Fidel Suárez air base.

What is known about the attack is that Hover Alexander Orrego, 35, and Edixon Panche Noscue, 36, were travelling on a motor cycle when they were surprised by two other men, also travelling on motor bikes, who shot them with a firearm. Orrego died at the scene because of bullet wounds to his back, while Panchue managed to reach the Santa Lucía hospital in El Dovio where minutes later his death was reported.

The event occurred in the El Carmen neighborhood. Personnel of Sijín de Roldanillo, Valle del Cauca, arrived at the scene of the crime to carry out the technical inspection of the murder scene of the two indigenous people who had already reported threats against them, without receiving a timely response.

« We had already reported the threats to the National Protection Unit and the respective study was already underway. Unfortunately, they were murdered and they had not yet had the protection, « said the head of the department who, in turn, said that the mayor of that municipality is also threatened, but he has already been given due protection.

Although the authorities say that the attack was due to an ELN action, in the area there is also interference by criminal gangs.