The feared ex-Farc commander had become notorious for his bloody guerrilla attacks and kidnappings.
Velasquez with dissident leaders of Segunda Marquetalia announcing the group's formation in 2019
Local media have speculated that mercenaries may have killed Velásquez, seeking rewards for his capture.that it will not confirm his death until officials have seen his body. A spokesperson for Colombian president Iván Duque told Reuters news agency that his office was seeking more information. A commander of one of the Farc's most feared units, Velásquez became notorious for the severity of his attacks. He was behind a car bombing in the Colombian capital, Bogata, that killed 36 people and wounded nearly 200 more in 2003.His reputation was so well known that when he joined peace process talks in Havana in 2016, many saw it as a sign that the guerrillas were truly committed to laying down their arms.
If his death is confirmed it will be the second major loss for the group this year. Santrich, once a key figure in the peace process,in May by what the dissident group claimed were Colombian army commandoes.