President Gustavo Petro supports Juliana Guerrero, an Interior Ministry official investigated for using an official plane for personal purposes.
President Gustavo Petro came out in defense of Juliana Guerrero, an Interior Ministry official, who allegedly used a National Police plane last June.
The Attorney General's Office announced the opening of a preliminary investigation against the woman, who currently serves as the agency's cabinet coordinator.
The 23-year-old woman allegedly used a National Police aircraft to travel from Bogotá to the department of Cesar and back, all for personal purposes. According to Noticias Uno, Guerrero first traveled with a sister to Valledupar on June 19.
Juliana Guerrero, advisor to Minister Armando Benedetti. Photo: Private archive
In light of these events, the First District Prosecutor's Office ordered the collection of evidence to determine whether the reported conduct could constitute a disciplinary offense.
Also in these investigations, the Public Ministry is trying to determine whether the plane, with registration number PNC-042 , took off from the capital of Cesar and returned to Bogotá carrying family and friends of the same officer.
This is what President Petro said about the official Following the criticism surrounding this complaint, which is now under investigation by the oversight body, President Gustavo Petro decided to back it in a presidential address.
Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia, during the Council of Ministers on July 15. Photo: Presidency
" They're criticizing a girl because the minister sent her on an errand that wasn't for him , but for Colombia, because she's on a plane," the president questioned amid the controversy that once again casts doubt on his government.
It's worth noting that the same complaint, which the Attorney General's Office has in its possession, indicates that the trip was allegedly a family outing and that "the behavior was evident in images posted on social media."
Furthermore, according to official information extracted from the flight log, at no time was general information disclosed to airport authorities.
The plane reportedly landed at 10:24 p.m. that day to request fuel. Minutes before the airport closed, air traffic controllers attempted to contact the crew without receiving a response.
" They don't criticize the fact that every day they fly out of Colombia, paid for with public money , to enrich their private assets through clinics owned by them, by the owners of the health insurance companies," the president stated.
Minister Armando Benedetti also reacted The incident was also acknowledged by Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, who confirmed that it was indeed an "orderly act" and that the commotion caused was the result of a "misunderstanding" that will now be clarified, thanks to the investigation announced by the Attorney General's Office in this case.
Minister Benedetti posted on his Instagram that Guerrero is his chief of staff. Photo: Social Media
Guerrero has several semesters of accounting experience at the Universidad Popular del Cesar, was its student representative, and has been a member of the Historic Pact youth movement since 2022 , along with her sister. An investigation by EL TIEMPO provides more details about the profile of the young woman currently at the center of a new controversy within the Petro administration.
The official had been introduced by President Gustavo Petro at the first televised cabinet meeting as someone "a little young and rebellious." At that moment, the nation saw Laura wearing an olive-green cap inside the presidential compound.
The young woman was brought to the highest levels of Colombian power by Interior Minister Armando Benedetti to become his right-hand woman in the presidential office.
María Paula Rodríguez Rozo
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