Colombia’s defence minister, Pedro Sánchez, has announced a record 5 billion peso ($1.4m; £1m) reward for information leading to the capture of a rebel commander known as “Marlon,” following a deadly bombing that claimed 20 lives.
The suspect, whose real name is Iván Jacob Idrobo Arredondo, is believed to have orchestrated Saturday’s attack on the Pan-American Highway.
The blast is among the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent times and comes just weeks before Colombia’s presidential election on 31 May.
Sánchez said the unprecedented bounty is the largest ever offered in the country and accused “Marlon” of being behind not only the highway bombing but also a series of coordinated attacks across Cauca and Valle del Cauca provinces over the weekend, though no evidence has been disclosed.
The worst of the incidents occurred on the road linking Cali and Popayán, where an explosive device killed 15 women and five men.
Several buses and other vehicles were destroyed, leaving a massive crater at the scene, local authorities said.
“Marlon” is affiliated with a dissident armed group led by Iván Mordisco, Colombia’s most wanted insurgent.
Mordisco split from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia during the 2016 peace negotiations and now oversees operations tied to drug trafficking, illegal mining, and extortion.
Cauca Governor Octavio Guzmán condemned the violence, describing it as the “most brutal and ruthless attack against the civilian population in decades”.
President Gustavo Petro also denounced those responsible as “terrorists, fascists and drug traffickers” and ordered additional troops to be deployed to the affected region.
With Petro unable to seek another term, he has endorsed left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda, who currently leads opinion polls and supports renewed dialogue with rebel groups.
Meanwhile, right-wing rivals are advocating a tougher security stance ahead of the 31 May election, which could proceed to a run-off on 21 June.
