Written by: Analysis Team of La Tabla/Data Journalism Platform 11AUG 2025
The attribution of “Zarco Aldinever” as the mastermind behind Senator Uribe Turbay’s assassination reveals significant flaws. The evidence relies on weak testimonies and a lack of direct proof, while his death has silenced any defense. This analysis dissects the breaks in the chain of command, the contradictory motives, and the risk of a politically convenient narrative that masks other responsible parties.
🔄 1. Disconnected Chain of Command
There is no evidence of direct communication between Zarco (operating in Venezuela) and the hitmen in Bogotá. The Prosecutor’s Office bases its case on intermediaries like “El Costeño,” yet the link is weak and does not explain the possible independent actions of local cells or alliances with other armed groups (ELN, Clan del Golfo).
🕵️ 2. Weak Evidence and Opaqueness
– Unverified Testimonies: Statements from captured hitmen are vulnerable to plea deals.
– Missing Technical Evidence: No interceptions, messages, or documents have been disclosed showing Zarco giving a specific order.
– Generic Pattern ≠ Specific Action: General threats from Segunda Marquetalia against “politicians” do not prove authorship in this case.
⚰️ 3. Convenient Death
His physical elimination by the ELN (August 2025) prevented any defense and closed the official narrative without counterweights. This diverts attention from other actors: Are there ELN connections? Economic or political interests outside the guerrilla?
🧩 4. Contradictory Motive
– Doubtful Political Impact: Uribe Turbay was not a presidential candidate, but a critical senator with less influence than other figures in his party.
– No Strategic Sense: The Segunda Marquetalia prioritizes territorial control in border areas rather than high-profile assassinations in Bogotá that attract large military operations.
📰 5. Political and Media Construction
The link was announced in just three days without public evidence, suggesting a urgency for quick results due to the victim’s profile (“ideological son” of Álvaro Uribe). Blaming a dead guerrilla simplifies the narrative, omitting actors like paramilitaries or drug traffickers.
⚠️ Critical Risks
– Real Impunity: Focusing on Zarco buries other lines of investigation.
– Judicial Delegitimization: Evidence opacity breeds institutional distrust.
– Recurring Pattern: This recalls cases like the murder of Rafael Moreno (2023), where political narrative prevailed over rigor.
Final Conclusion:
The official version persists due to political and international pressure but rests on broken chains, weak testimonies, and a death that silenced the accused. The shadow of manipulation is longer than the evidence.