Colombian Rebels Free Mayor Captured in December

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Members of the rebel group known as National Liberation Army of Colombia (ELN) have released Freddy Ramirez Palacios, the mayor of Alto Baudo, Colombia. Ramirez was abucted in December of last year.

The rebel group had taken Ramirez hostage after corruption accusations. Although he had been missing since mid-February, the ELN only confirmed they had abducted him earlier this month. 

Ramirez “campaigned in the communities and promised to invest in healthcare and education, but once in office he did as the rest of the government officials in the state and stole money from the municipal budget,” the ELN said then. He had to be “deprived of his freedom in order to force him to be held accountable.”

After hearing the news that her husband had been freed and after talking with him on the phone, his wife Abelinda Medina told Radio RCN she was elated. 

"I'm happy he called and said he was already released, that's OK, we are very grateful to God,” she said.