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Un hombre con micrófono junto a otro hombre con gorra en un acto público al aire libre en Colombia
Acto público relacionado con decisiones de entrega de tierras en Colombia. · Semana

Alleged Land Agency Corruption Under Petro Probed

The government reported alleged irregularities at the National Land Agency during the previous administration, with 50.000 million pesos allegedly compromised.

--- The context --- The government of Abelardo De La Espriella reported a new alleged corruption scandal that reportedly took place at the National Land Agency during the administration of Gustavo Petro. The agency is central to land delivery decisions in several regions of the country, so any alleged irregularity in its management directly affects communities still waiting for decisions about land. --- The facts --- The agency director, former congresswoman Lina María Garrido, brought the findings to light and said, according to her account, that close to 50.000 million pesos could be compromised. She reported the matter in a video released by the Presidency and placed the details in the hands of the Attorney General Office and the oversight bodies. According to what Garrido said, the alleged irregularities would involve resources from the administration of Felipe Harman, a former mayor of Villavicencio. The matters described include the alleged improper signing of contracts, prevarication, embezzlement and improper use of privileged information, along with land delivery decisions adopted under that leadership. --- The positions --- The position of the current government, expressed by Garrido, is that the justice system must clarify the possible illegal network that reportedly operated inside the entity. The director added that they expect the complaints to move forward and that those responsible, if any are proven, answer for their actions before the competent authorities. So far there is no court ruling establishing guilt for any person. Everything reported remains alleged and must be verified by prosecutors, the Inspector General Office and the other oversight bodies, with full guarantees for every person named in the complaint and full respect for due process. --- What remains unknown --- The details of the questioned contracts remain unknown, as do the evidence supporting each finding and the response of Felipe Harman and the other officials mentioned. It also remains unknown which specific land delivery decisions are under review and in which regions the alleged events reportedly took place. --- Unanswered questions --- Which specific contracts concentrate the alleged irregularities reported by the current agency leadership? What response will Felipe Harman and the former officials named give to each finding presented against them? When will prosecutors and oversight bodies report verifiable progress in this investigation to the public? --- EPM analysis --- The complaint adds to questions raised about other entities from the previous government, including the Administrative Department of the Presidency, the National Learning Service, the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, the ministries of Environment and Equality and the Department of Social Prosperity. That broader context makes it essential to separate each case and judge it only on its own evidence. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, reporting alleged irregularities with figures, named processes and immediate referral to prosecutors is the right way to protect land resources, provided the investigation respects the presumption of innocence and advances on verifiable evidence. The country needs to know whether an illegal network operated inside the National Land Agency or whether the findings do not hold up, and only rigorous justice can provide that answer, without early convictions and without guaranteed impunity for anyone at all.
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