It was the order of the minister: the explosive audio about the departure of General Jhon Jairo Rojas, who was mounted in the Petro Government

A retired general, Jhon Jairo Rojas, has claimed he was forced out of the Colombian military under false pretenses orchestrated by officials within the government of President Gustavo Petro. The claim comes after an explosive audio recording surfaced in which former Army commander Luis Mauricio Ospina admitted that Rojas’s removal had been ordered by the defense minister at the time, Iván Velásquez. This revelation has reignited controversy over the circumstances surrounding Rojas's departure from active service in late 2023. The situation began with an internal military report alleging that Rojas had ties to criminal groups in the Cauca region. This document, signed by several generals, was submitted to Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office, prompting an investigation into Rojas. However, rather than waiting for the results of this inquiry, unlike in other cases involving high-ranking officers, the government decided to remove Rojas from his position immediately. His removal was later attributed to a fabricated case designed to damage his reputation and career. In recent weeks, the Attorney General’s Office officially closed its investigation into Rojas, finding no evidence to support claims of illicit enrichment or influence peddling. This decision effectively cleared him of the allegations that led to his dismissal. Meanwhile, a low-ranking officer named Fredy Acuña revealed that he had been tasked with gathering information against Rojas and his family, including fabricating details about their property holdings. According to Acuña, a colonel instructed him to inflate the value of Rojas’s home to 4 billion pesos, despite the figure being untrue. Rojas recently met with Ospina in a shopping mall in northern Bogotá, where they discussed the events leading to his removal. During the conversation, Rojas expressed frustration over the injustice done to him and his family. Ospina reportedly apologized, acknowledging that Rojas’s exit had been ordered by the defense minister. He also admitted that some individuals within the military sought to undermine Rojas due to their ambitions for power. Ospina described how these individuals worked to tarnish Rojas’s image through relentless attacks, particularly targeting his family. He confirmed that the internal report used to justify Rojas’s removal had been part of a coordinated effort to eliminate him from the military hierarchy. Despite these admissions, questions remain about who exactly orchestrated the scheme and whether higher-level officials were involved. The case has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the military and the justice system in Colombia. While the Attorney General’s Office has dismissed the charges against Rojas, the broader implications of the alleged fabrication continue to unfold. Investigations into the motivations behind the report and the identities of those responsible for orchestrating it are ongoing. The involvement of General Federico Mejía, currently serving as the head of Education and Doctrine in the Army, adds another layer of complexity to the situation. His name appears in the original report that triggered the investigation, though it is unclear whether he played a direct role in its creation. As more details emerge, the focus will likely shift toward uncovering the full extent of the conspiracy and holding those responsible accountable. The incident has sparked calls for transparency and reform within the military and government institutions. With the official investigation concluded and Rojas cleared of wrongdoing, attention now turns to determining the truth behind the fabricated report and ensuring such actions are not repeated in the future.