Mono Jojoy, a military commander of the FARC whose real name was Jorge Briceno and who was second in command of the rebel group was killed in a military attack.
Colombian President Juan Manual Santos has declared it an extraordinary blow against the FARC.
President Juan Manual Santos further added that Mono Jojoy’s death was an overwhelming blow to the organization, more than Raul Reyes as Mono Jojoy was the symbol of terror and an embodiment of violence. President Juan Manual is attending the UN General Assembly in New York.
According to Colombian defense minister Rodrigo Rivera, the body of 57-year-old Mono Jojoy was found on Thursday morning when military forces bombed a large stronghold of the FARC in La Macarena, Meta Department in central Colombia.
A source of defense ministry confined that around 30 warplanes, 16 helicopters and 250 armed forces personnel took part in the action that left 20 guerrillas dead. The source also said that forces used smart bombs during the action.
Speaking about the death of Mono Jojoy, President Juan Santos said that on this day he congratulates to his men and heroes of motherland. Santos was the defense minister of Colombia when Raul Reyes was killed in Ecuador on 1st March, 2008.
Former Conservative President Andres Pastrana has also declared the death of Mono Jojoy a blow to the heart of the FARC adding that Mono Jojoy was the man behind terror generating from the FARC quarters.
The defense minister Rivera has said that Mono Jojoy was one the most hated men of Colombia by his compatriots being so cruel and so terrorist.
Mono Jojoy was also required by the United States for trafficking of drugs and kidnapping of three Americans who were released on 2nd July, 2008 during Operation Jaque.
Mono Jojoy Muerto