Ex-politician and mayoral candidate assassinated in Colombia

Miguel Armando Castellanos Serrano, a former Secretary of Government and aspiring mayor of Cúcuta, a Colombian city near Venezuela, was killed on Monday, October 26. The 12-year-old son of Castellanos was riding in an armored vehicle with him when a cyclist collided with the car. Upon exiting the vehicle to investigate, Castellanos was shot in the head. The child was unharmed after the attack.

Reports suggest Castellanos was not accompanied by bodyguards despite past threats, as he had been in Cúcuta to attend to his brother, former Senator Jairo Castellanos, who was hospitalized for an emergency. Miguel Castellanos had a distinguished career in the National Police, serving for over 21 years and holding various command positions throughout the country.

He also pursued higher education in Police Administration and Business Administration with a focus on Project Management. He had been linked to a contraband network in 2025, though bribery allegations were never substantiated.

President Abelardo De La Espriella condemned the killing, calling it a "cowardly murder" and vowing to seek justice. The Colombian National Police has offered a reward of up to 100 million pesos for information leading to the perpetrators. Local authorities in Cúcuta and Norte de Santander have added an additional 50 million pesos each. The incident has heightened concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Cúcuta.

Following the attack, an explosive device was detonated at the Francisco de Paula Santander International Bridge on the Venezuelan border, causing damage to nearby vehicles and injuring several citizens. The attack has been attributed to the National Liberation Army. The motive behind Castellanos' murder remains unclear, with no identified suspects or arrests made so far. Key questions surrounding the incident are yet to be answered.