Franklin Velázquez was a community leader in San Miguel, Putumayo and had previously worked for a number of years for the Instituto Colombiano de Bien-estar Familiar (Colombian Institute for Family Welfare). He was also a member of the Polo Democrático Alternativo party.
Franklin supported many community projects through his involvement in Red Unidos (United Network) and the ICBF.
On 2 September 2020, armed men burst into his home in the centre of San Miguel , shooting him multiple times and killing him instantly.