Colombia's Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced a record 5 billion peso ($1.4 million; £1 million) reward for the capture of a rebel commander known as "Marlon," whom the government accuses of orchestrating a devastating bomb attack on the Pan-American Highway that killed 20 people on Saturday.
Identified as Iván Jacob Idrobo Arredondo, "Marlon" is a key figure in a dissident faction of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). The attack, one of the deadliest targeting civilians in recent years, destroyed several buses and vehicles, leaving a massive crater on the road linking Cali and Popayán.
Minister Sánchez said the reward is the highest ever offered by Colombia for a fugitive, emphasizing that "Marlon" is also linked to a series of other attacks over the weekend in the provinces of Cauca and Valle del Cauca. No specific evidence has been released, but Sánchez stated that "Marlon" ordered these assaults.
Cauca Governor Octavio Guzmán described the bombing as "the most brutal and ruthless attack against the civilian population in decades." President Gustavo Petro called the perpetrators "terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers" and has deployed additional troops to the region.
The attack comes just over a month before Colombia's presidential elections on May 31, with a possible run-off on June 21. opinion polls show left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda, who advocates for renewed peace talks with rebels, leading the right-wing opposition candidates who favor a tougher stance.
"Marlon" is part of a group led by Iván Mordisco, Colombia's most wanted man, who broke away from the Farc during the 2016 peace negotiations. Mordisco's group is involved in illegal mining, extortion, and drug trafficking.