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(CNN Spanish) - Colombian President Iván Duque and Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo announced an investigation to establish whether there were illegal interceptions of Supreme Court magistrates, politicians and journalists
from Army offices.
However, Duke and Holmes said the innocence of General Nicasio Martínez, a former Army commander, should be presumed until the investigation yields conclusive data on whether these irregularities existed or not.
MIRA: Journalists denounce illegal interceptions
The magazine Semana in its edition of this Saturday published the result of a multi-month investigation in which, according to alleged Army sources cited by the publication and documents they claim to have in their possession, from battalions of that institution in Bogotá they would have been carried out what is known in Colombia as "chuzadas".
In a statement, General Martínez said Monday about it: "I have nothing to do with the publication made by Semana magazine and I am totally oblivious to such illegal and injurious actions."
He added: "During the time that I have remained in the institution and in the performance of the position as commander of the National Army in its bicentennial, I have NEVER issued any order contrary to the Constitution and the law."
MIRA: Condemned for 'blows' a high former official in Colombia and ask to investigate former president Álvaro Uribe
Martinez had recently been pointed out by The New York Times for alleged guidelines to his subordinates to increase casualties in combat against illegal armed groups without sufficient prior checks to verify the objectives.
At the time, the former Army commander said that the instructions contained in several memoranda were in accordance with legal procedures and the constitution.
However, the Government decided to withdraw those instructions that, according to various media and analysts in Colombia, recalled the policy of stimuli in exchange for operational results that led some military units to commit the so-called “false positives,” with civilians who were killed in defenseless state and then presented as guerrillas killed in combat. Currently, the Special Justice for Peace, JEP, investigates more than 2,000 of these cases.
The illegal interceptions would have been carried out, according to Semana, from a team acquired by the military forces known as "Invisible Man". According to the magazine, it is a sophisticated software that allows you to intercept all types of telephone, digital communications and access to computer files.
MIRA: Colombian police say they thwarted an attack against 'Timochenko', leader of the FARC party
CNN has not been able to independently confirm these facts.
Semana magazine also said in the article that several of its journalists have been threatened with death after conducting investigations involving the military.
Several political sectors have called for these investigations to get to the bottom of the facts.
Roy Barreras, senator of the National Unity Party and one of the alleged victims of these interceptions, said he put President Duque on the facts.
An advisor to General Nicasio Martínez told CNN that the former commander welcomes the pronouncements of President Duque and the Minister of Defense, who insist that his departure from the institution was for family reasons.
The source also maintains that the high officer has expressed to the authorities his willingness to go to any call to clarify the situation.
Sucked