Colombia's ELN Rebels Release Two Police Officers as the Nation Prepares to Hold a Pivotal Election
The release comes as candidates split over peace talks, and the ELN says it will avoid military operations and election interference for four days.
- On Tuesday, the National Liberation Army released two police officers, Esley Hoyos and Yordin Fabián Pérez, who were held hostage for almost a year, Colombia's human rights defender's office reported.
- The ELN kidnapped Hoyos and Pérez in July 2025 while they were investigating crimes in Arauca, a province bordering Venezuela, before putting them on trial for alleged espionage.
- President Gustavo Petro launched peace talks with the group in 2022, but suspended negotiations last year after attacks in northeast Colombia displaced more than 56,000 people from their homes.
- With the release occurring days before the election, candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has promised a combative approach against rebel groups, while rival Sen. Iván Cepeda supports continuing peace talks.
- The ELN committed to cease military operations from June 20 to June 23 and refrain from election interference, though the group remains holding two prosecutors hostage, prompting officials to demand their release.
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The National Liberation Army released two agents abducted in 2025 and warned: "Ready to accept the dialogue, otherwise we will continue the clash." Opening conditioned by the progressive candidate Cepeda, while the Conservative de la Espriella closes to any contact
Associated Press News
Colombia's ELN rebels release two police officers as the nation prepares to hold a pivotal election
Two police officers who were held hostage for almost a year by Colombia’s largest remaining rebel group were released, the nation’s human rights defender’s office said.
The Delegation of the National Government to the Dialogues of Peace with the ELN confirmed yesterday the release of patrolman Yordin Fabián Pérez Mendoza and sub-intendent Franki Esley Hoyos Murcia, members of the National Police who had been kidnapped by that guerrilla since July 20, 2025 in the department of Arauca. The news was announced by the guerrilla delegation through a statement in which he reported that the two uniforms regained their …
The National Liberation Army (ELN) released the police of the Criminal Investigation and Interpol Directorate (DIJIN) Franki Esley Hoyos Murcia and Yordin Fabián Pérez Mendoza, who had been kidnapped by that armed organization since July last year in the department of Arauca. The two uniformed men had been detained by the guerrilla group during an operation in that region of the country, one of the areas with the largest historical presence of t…
The abduction of the men took place on July 20, 2025 when the uniforms were carrying out investigative work in Arauca
Eln announces release of Dijín agents after 13 months of kidnapping Agencia Period... Lun, 15/06/2026 - 19:13 According to the armed group, police officers Franki Esley Hoyos Murcia and Yordi Fabián Pérez Mendoza, fulfilled their “penalty”.
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