At the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police of Cali, the minister of Defense, Diego Molano, announced the measures ordered to the Military Forces to restore normality in the capital city of Valle del Cauca.
He reported that, by instruction of President Iván Duque, since last night an extraordinary Security Council was installed, which will be maintained until normality is restored in the city. Among others, the governor of Valle del Cauca, Clara Luz Roldán, the mayor of Cali, Jorge Iván Ospina, regional authorities, as well as senior military and police officers, participated in this meeting.
"We have identified that the violent acts have been premeditated, planned and sponsored by criminal organizations. We are in identification processes to prosecute those responsible, we have open 23 ongoing investigative processes," said Molano
The minister in the same way said that "since last night, the number of units in the streets has been reinforced with more than 2,500 members of the Military Forces, which include more than 500 Esmad units to prevent blockades (1,800 police and 700 of the National Army) two helicopters and 60 additional motorcycles".
He in the same way, he highlighted that from early morning priority was given to clearing the roads in and out of the city, to ensure the mobility of the 50 garbage trucks that were blocked and permanently different operations will be carried out to ensure entry and exit of the city and the most critical points of the departmental roads.
"We won this battle together with the inhabitants of Cali! Let's help by denouncing, this is the key to security: report on the line: 311 62536 70. We have reported more than 60 faces in acts of vandalism, identify them and report them. Up to 50 million pesos, for information that helps to find criminals, " Molano said.
Regarding the mobility of medical personnel and elements to provide support for the COVID-19 health emergency in the city, the head of the Ministry of Defense said the necessary operations will be deployed to ensure that oxygen and vaccines reach the inhabitants.
"One thing is to protest and quite another to attack the lives of those who require health care. We have already strengthened the security operation for the arrival and distribution of more than 56 thousand Sinovac vaccines against COVID-19, in this way we guarantee the immunization of more Colombians to face this pandemic."
Source: Defence Sector Communications Office – Ministry of National Defence
