The director general of Colombia’s National Police said he and other officers used exorcisms and prayers to fight crime and the country’s most powerful criminals, including Pablo Escobar, one of the world’s largest drug traffickers, who was killed in 1993 .
Sitting in his office surrounded by crucifixes, images of the Virgin Mary and other Catholic symbols, General Henry Sanabria told local media on Saturday that these religious practices have helped police over the past 50 years of armed conflict in that South American country. As examples he recalled the police operations in which Escobar was killed (in 1993), the FARC guerrilla leader, Alfonso Cano, (2011) and his military leader known as “Mono Jojoy” (2010).
The existence of the devil is certain. I have seen him. I felt him,’ Sanabria said in an interview with Semana magazine, making the sign of the cross at every mention of the devil.
Sanabria also stated that the criminals used witchcraft, saying that during an operation a police officer managed to kill one of them “praying while firing”.
These statements sparked heated debates on social media in Colombia, a secular country with Catholic traditions. But President Gustavo Petro did not express concern. “We know the general’s beliefs, but we try to make sure those beliefs don’t influence the rules, it’s simple”, he said. “I think he respected them, as far as we know.”
Earlier statements by the leader of the Colombian police also caused controversy. Sanabria spoke out against abortion, which is legal in Colombia up to the 24th week of pregnancy, and the use of condoms, which he called an “abortive method”.
Last October, he described Halloween as a “satanic” holiday and wrote a tweet about Women’s Day on March 8 that was accused of being sexist. “A wife’s charm makes her husband happy and if she is reasonable she can endure. A discreet wife is a gift from the Lord”He wrote.
Source: DN
