Two campaign workers for right-wing Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella were killed on Friday night in a rural area of Cubarral, Meta province. Rogers Mauricio Devia, a former Cubarral mayor and local campaign coordinator, and Fabian Cardona, a logistics aide, were intercepted and shot by four hooded men on motorcycles while returning from Villavicencio with campaign materials.
De La Espriella, whose party is the Defenders of the Homeland, described the killings as cowardly murders in cold blood. While authorities have not blamed a specific armed group, De La Espriella blamed a dissident faction of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels without providing evidence. This follows recent allegations by the candidate regarding a sniper assassination plot against him involving government intelligence members.
The attacks come two weeks before the May 31 election to replace President Gustavo Petro, the country's first leftist president. De La Espriella currently polls second behind leftist Ivan Cepeda and has promised a hard line against drug trafficking, criminal gangs, and guerrillas, which includes the bombing of rebel camps and the resumption of aerial fumigation of coca crops.
A rights office warned that the violence could hinder the exercise of political rights ahead of the May vote. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes during the first round, a runoff election will be held on June 21.