Ministry of Justice details the Law of Submission that the government will promote

The Colombian government announced new measures allowing direct contracting to address victims of an earthquake that struck on August 10, 2026. President Abelardo de la Espriella signed several decrees on September 17, 2026, as the window for extraordinary powers was about to close. These decrees aim to streamline processes for handling the aftermath of the quake, including the supply of goods, provision of services, and execution of necessary works to mitigate its effects. Decree 1420 of 2026 establishes that due to the declaration of an Economic, Social, and Ecological Emergency, the urgency for direct contracting by state entities is deemed proven. This measure allows state entities to enter into contracts for supplies, services, or works related to addressing the emergency without being subject to certain legal limits, provided there is technical, legal, and financial justification. Additionally, public entities can acquire goods through bulk purchasing instruments, with transaction values up to the minimum amount set by each state entity. President De la Espriella also signed Decree 1413 of 2026, which introduces a temporary regime of incentives to encourage private investments contributing directly to reconstruction, recovery, and economic revitalization in affected areas. This decree outlines specific investment thresholds in sectors such as tourism, agroindustry, construction, and manufacturing. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism will assess projects seeking these incentives based on objective criteria outlined in the decree. In addition to these measures, the government allocated an additional 624 billion Colombian pesos to address the emergency. These actions are part of broader efforts to manage the impact of the earthquake, including the establishment of the Miracle Fund to channel resources and monitor reconstruction efforts in affected departments. Separately, the Justice Ministry detailed plans for a new law aimed at compelling criminal groups to surrender. Attorney General Iván Cancino emphasized that the law would impose stricter conditions for judicial benefits, eliminate political mediation with criminal groups, and ensure that individuals convicted under this law serve their sentences in ordinary prisons without special privileges. The law also specifies reduced penalty discounts based on rank within criminal organizations, with leaders receiving no more than a 30% reduction and others potentially up to 50%. The government aims to shift away from previous policies of negotiated peace with armed groups, viewing all such groups as terrorists. High-ranking officials have indicated that one pilot program for the law will target members of the Coordinadora Nacional del Ejército Bolivariana (Cneb), who agreed to disarmament with the previous administration. Cancino and Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara have been preparing for the law's introduction, with the president publicly praising Cancino’s work on accelerating extraditions and transferring prisoners to standard prisons.