It’s been a week since Former prosecutor Claudia Carrasquilla will reveal images of the Vallenato party with Nelson Velásquez in the second pavilion of the Itagüí prison (Antioquia)in which, among other inmates, leaders of the criminal gangs that operate in the Aburrá Valley participated. The events, which motivated citizen indignation due to the benefits accessed by these bosses, who negotiate peace with the government, They also motivated the opening of criminal and disciplinary investigations by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office.respectively. In dialogue with EL TIEMPO, Colonel Daniel Gutiérrez, director of Inpec, answers the questions.
What to respond to Colombians about the actions of Inpec in the face of the scandal of Nelson Velásquez’s Vallenato party in the Itagüí prison?
We have been working very hard. Here we have a constant fight against the behavior of people deprived of liberty, to prevent escapes, scandals, excesses, or liquor entry. We have done tireless work with the penitentiary officials, because here there is a great fight so that those deprived of liberty do not do these types of acts, but also coordinated and articulated work with the officials so that there is no indolence.so that they work in a more committed way, understanding the difficulties.
It is said that we lack officials, that we lack infrastructure, that we lack cameras, but we do not have the autonomy to say: “Itagüí does not have lights, nor does it have cameras, so let’s invest this in lights, let’s invest this in armored vehicles, let’s invest this in cameras, let’s invest this in mesh. Or if we have a leak in La Picota, let’s invest in perimeter walls.” The truth is that We do not have autonomy because that is managed by the Penitentiary and Prison Services Unit (Uspec),
The director of Inpec, Colonel Daniel Gutiérrez. Photo:Courtesy
To all these things we must add that we have criminal structures that are deprived of liberty, which generates an impact in terms of risk for officials. And that is why last year and the year before that, threats and homicides increased, precisely to generate strong control.
But beyond the general view, what to say about Itagüí?
We see the indolence of officials who allow this to happen. You cannot hide the entry of trucks, platforms, artists, people. Right now we are doing important work with the Police and the Prosecutor’s Office to determine whose vehicles entered that day, which are approximately twenty-five vehicles. It must also be clarified that there are no official vehicles. Yes, there are vehicles that belong to some guard officials and other administrative officials, and in fact I think they belong to some doctors, but they are not institutional..
Were new security measures taken?
The decision was made, together with the regional authorities, to militarize the perimeter of the Itagüí prisontaking into account that the people to be transferred are part of the main criminal groups that commit crimes in the Aburrá Valley.
Itagui Prison Photo:Archive
The security cameras have not been in operation for three years, which will hinder the investigative activity of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office. What should we respond to this?
Well, unfortunately, as I said a moment ago, there are establishments like Itagüí that have been without security cameras for several years. We do not have that capacity that also allows control. And that is where this lack of autonomy comes again and that is where the directors of establishments have also been required to make inter-administrative agreements with the mayors of the country..
Director, to specify, how is the prison management structure then?
First, I must clarify that the greatest Edgar Iván Pérez Ortegawho is the actual director, is not on duty at the prison when the facts occur. That’s why, He is not part of the investigation, because the investigation is clearly focused on the events that occurred that violated the prison regime.. Even so, the support of the regional director, Guillermo González, was ordered, who also has to fulfill a supervisory and control function of the establishment, and of all those in that area of the country. He temporarily assumes control and supervisionas well as the accompaniment of Major Pérez, who is still the director.
What is going to happen with the transfers?
On occasions where facts have been presented against transparency and against the prison regime, the first thing that has been done is transfers, precisely to avoid those comfort zones. Fortunately, our President Gustavo Petro ordered the transfer of these people deprived of liberty. We are waiting for the administrative procedures to carry out the transfer and place them in another prison in the country, so that no event that affects transparency occurs again. nor the good institutional image, much less the institutional regulations.
The transfers will be an exemplary message for officials and also for people deprived of liberty, who are also being investigated for violating the prison regime.
Daniel Gutiérrez, director of Inpec. Photo:Mauricio Moreno/El Tiempo
What has President Petro told you?
I have always received messages from the Ministry of Justice and the Presidency that we must have permanent control and be forceful against activities that are different from the penitentiary regime. We cannot allow them to continue happening. And also some constant recommendations regarding security in terms of avoiding any type of leak.Let us avoid any risk to the lives of officials and also of people deprived of liberty.
Carlos López and Sebastian Cote Lozano
JUSTICE SECTION
