VARGAS: “El adiós de Naranjo”, (El Tiempo, CO)

On April 20, President Juan Manuel Santos announced that Director General of National Police, Oscar Naranjo, had decided to step down after five years in office and 35 in the police service.  Mauricio Vargas in his weekly c(column) in El Tiempo emphasizes that Naranjo’s decision should be seen as an example in a country where leaders always stay around, giving opinions beyond their time of duty.

According to Vargas, Naranjo tried to step down months ago, but President Santos didn’t want to let him go.  He was the one that understood that the police institution needed a 180 degrees change because under it there was a lot of corruption.  In his early days he lead an elite group to fight corruption and drug trafficking.  In the 90’s he created an intelligence body according to his desire.  This group was in charge of following criminals from the guerrillas, paramilitary and drug cartels.

Furthermore, Naranjo and his men lacked political bias, which made them understand that it doesn’t matter if they are FARC, AUC or drug traffickers, all of them are linked in the cocaine business.  In more than 20 years, he and his men were key against the Medellin Cartel, Norte del Valle Cartel, in the revelation of the paramilitary intentions, and also, in the blows against the guerrilla leaders as Reyes, Cano and Jojoy.

Vargas concludes by pointing out that Naranjo consolidated the intelligence front of the Police and he returned dignity to the institution.  He finishes saying goodbye to the General and thanks him for doing a great job.