Federico Gutiérrez announces that he will go to the outskirts of La Picota to talk about “social forgiveness”

The presidential candidate of Equipo for Colombia, Federico Gutiérrez, recently commented that he will visit La Picota prison on April 18 to talk about the controversy of “social forgiveness” proposed by the candidate for the Historical Pact, Gustavo Petro.

The controversy began after the brother of the former mayor of Bogotá, Juan Fernando Petro, met with Iván Moreno Rojas, the former mayor of Bucaramanga and former congressman convicted in the case of the recruitment carousel in Bogotá. In an interview, the candidate for the presidency explained that the visit had to do with a proposal that he had mentioned in the campaign: social forgiveness.

The presidential candidate's statements were not well received because various political sectors interpreted it as referring to a reduction of penalties for the corrupt in the country. However, the senator argued that was not the case. “My Government programme does not envisage a reform of justice based on the reduction of sentences. We have defended the autonomy of the judicial branch and its empowerment to the fullest. No amnesty or pardon is proposed as they now face us,” said the candidate.

Although he also showed evidence that his brother did not go to La Picota prison in the name of the Historical Pact campaign. “They are the prisoners who asked to speak to the Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace,” said Petro, who also added that his brother has been linked to that organization for years.

In context: Gustavo Petro clarifies that he did not send his brother to talk to Iván Moreno

Federico Gutiérrez's response

The candidate for Team for Colombia broke the news through his Twitter account and invited all media outlets to attend. “Tomorrow at 10 am I will be on the outskirts of La Picota prison, at a press conference to comment on the scandal of the 'Pact de la Picota', with which they intend to change votes by reducing sentences or forgiving corrupt and murderers,” wrote the former mayor of Medellín on that platform.

In fact, this is not the first time that Gutiérrez has referred to the subject; rather, on several occasions, he has spoken about the controversy surrounding Petro.

The former mayor of Medellín reacted at Easter to the senator's words and assured that: “Petro speaks of 'social forgiveness' to corrupt people like Iván Moreno who stole the health and resources of the needy citizens of Bogotá. Do you think there should be social forgiveness for corrupt people like Ivan and Samuel Moreno?”

Following that, he questioned his opponent in the elections, considering that he would be seeking support from La Picota to reach Casa de Nariño. “Petro, if you're going to lie to people head-on, like you always do, let it be at least at Easter (...) Is it rather that you want to acquit him in exchange for votes? Is this what you're going to do with all the corrupt people around you?” , commented the candidate.

Gutiérrez also reflected on forgiveness and assured that if it is necessary to give it to anyone it is the victims, “who were born and grew up in conditions of vulnerability and poverty and who had no other choice.” Thus, he emphasized his message in the campaign against corruption: “jail and political death”.

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