President Petro decorated a general splashed in a 60 billion Army contract scandal

President Gustavo Petro awarded the Cross of Boyacá to General Martha Rocío David Bastidas during a military parade in Bogotá on July 20, despite her involvement in a major scandal involving poorly executed contracts within the Colombian Army. The ceremony took place amid celebrations marking the 216th anniversary of Colombia’s independence, though the recognition of Bastidas drew little public attention at the time. The general, who was promoted to the rank of general during the ceremony, had previously been linked to one of the largest financial failures in the army's recent history. According to reports, she oversaw contracts totaling over 60 billion pesos, many of which were plagued by poor planning and execution. These issues came to light through an audit conducted by the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic, which highlighted systemic problems in how projects were structured and managed. During her tenure as commander of the Cede 10 unit, part of the Engineering Command (COING), Bastidas was responsible for planning and overseeing several military infrastructure projects. However, the audit revealed that the Cede 10 had played a central role in the flawed implementation of these contracts. It found that technical decisions made during the planning phase were often carried forward into the execution stage without proper documentation or accountability. This lack of oversight led to the misuse of public funds, with many projects failing to meet their intended objectives. Sources close to the audit confirmed that the Cede 10, which is supposed to house some of the country’s best military engineers, was at the center of these management failures. During the period when the problematic contracts were being structured, Bastidas held the rank of colonel and was in charge of the unit. Her leadership during this time coincided with the initiation of several high-profile projects that later faced legal challenges and financial setbacks. The audit detailed that the Cede 10 was tasked with identifying priority needs, developing and updating project proposals, managing budget resources, processing future spending authorizations, coordinating with the National Planning Department and the Ministry of Finance, and setting performance metrics. Despite these responsibilities, the unit reportedly failed to fulfill its duties effectively under Bastidas' command. The resulting inefficiencies contributed significantly to the overall fiscal losses associated with the contracts. Petro’s decision to honor Bastidas with the Cross of Boyacá has raised questions about the criteria used to select recipients of such awards. The general’s inclusion among other decorated officers highlights a potential disconnect between official recognition and the outcomes of the projects she managed. While the president emphasized the importance of acknowledging service and sacrifice within the armed forces, the timing of the award, amid ongoing investigations into military procurement practices, has drawn scrutiny. Military officials have not publicly commented on the specific reasons behind the award, nor have they addressed concerns about the implications of recognizing individuals linked to past controversies. Meanwhile, the Office of the Comptroller General continues its investigation into the broader issues surrounding the contracts, including whether other officials may share responsibility for the mismanagement. As the audit findings become more widely known, pressure is mounting on both the government and the military to address the underlying causes of the financial irregularities. The case of General David Bastidas serves as a focal point for discussions about transparency, accountability, and reform within the armed forces. With new information emerging regularly, the situation remains under active review by multiple institutions.