Police lieutenant pulled off a bus and executed by rebels in Colombia

Lieutenant Álvaro José Medina Peña, commander (also referred to in some reports as subcommander) of the Bolívar Police Station in Colombia’s Cauca department, was assassinated early Saturday morning while traveling to support police operations in El Bordo.

According to the National Police of Colombia and local reports, Medina Peña left Bolívar around 4:00 a.m. on a public bus bound for El Bordo (in the municipality of El Patía). Armed individuals intercepted the vehicle during the journey, forced him to get off, and killed him.

His body was discovered later that morning by members of the Civil Defense in the La Playa sector of the Guachicono corregimiento, in a rural area of Bolívar.

The National Police confirmed the officer had served for seven years and was heading to reinforce security efforts in El Bordo. In an official statement, the institution expressed deep mourning, extending condolences to his family, colleagues, and loved ones. It praised his commitment to service and vowed that justice would be pursued against those responsible.

The killing occurred amid ongoing territorial conflicts in southern Cauca between the ELN guerrilla group and FARC dissident factions, areas where illegal armed groups maintain significant influence and have repeatedly targeted security forces.

Authorities are investigating the exact circumstances of the murder. The incident highlights the persistent security challenges faced by police officers operating in one of Colombia’s most conflict-affected regions.