In addition to the shortage of air traffic controllers and the rain and winds battering the nation’s capital, There is another factor threatening flights at Bogota’s El Dorado Airport: Hugo Alberto Ospina Agudelo.
(We invite you to read: The narcotic party and the pink dusty plane that exposed a powerful boss)
He introduces himself as the president of the Taxi Owners and Drivers Association (Asoproctax). It was he who advised passengers to postpone or cancel their flights on 22 November, on the grounds that the taxi drivers’ strike planned for that day “will be large and indefinite”.
Equal, Through videos and media he called Bogotá mayor Claudia López incompetentand mobility secretary Deyanira Ávila.
(You may be interested in: Exclusive: State payroll overpayment due to error is more than $1 billion)
And he said that he was not afraid of the prosecutor’s office, that he respected it. When the district declared that they would blame him if he went into riots and blocked the airport’s revenue.
Ospina, a former Army soldier He was assigned to the Florencia battalion (Caquetá). In some sectors he is described as the leader of the taxi drivers’ union.
However, EL TIEMPO investigated and found that: Officially, neither the Bogotá authorities nor the unions recognize him or elect him as a leader of business leaders.taxi drivers or owners.
(Also: Scandal firms at Icetex have contracts with other Government agencies)
Actually, still It is estimated that there are 765,000 taxi drivers in the country, and 87,000 in Bogota; It is estimated that Ospina does not have enough votes to start the politics she insists on.
Although he is indeed a native of Medellín and lives in Puerto López (Meta), where he owns an estate, He first tried unsuccessfully to become a councilor and representative in the Bogotá Chamber, and a year ago became a senator.
(Also: Grupo Falabella company filed a lawsuit against the mega construction on the 100th and seventh buildings)
in 2018He spent 44,693,000 million pesos to obtain the parliamentary seat, but was burned by 3,170 votes despite Hernán Penagos’ formula. – the newly elected registrar – did not win either.
And when he wants to reach the Senate in 2022, Even though the party supporting him was the ‘U’ party, he could not receive 9,152 votes. and paid the price for his frustrated career in Congress.
EL TIEMPO investigated who the ‘political godfather’ was, but the community’s secretary, Jorge Luis Jaraba, said he had received no support from anyone in particular.: “He signed up for a party project called Líderes para Confiar and, following the call process, became part of the lists.”
(We invite you to read: Now it is members of the Paisa elite who are condemning the juicy cattle scam)
He also said the following when asked why they paid him for the campaign: “Yes, we support it financially. It is at the discretion of the party that is analyzed and supported accordingly.”
But, Jaraba moved away from strategy former candidate now employs to claim benefits For the taxi union.
“As a party, we respect the right to protest. But we are the enemy of actual actions that affect the quality of life of other citizens. These blockades are not party-sponsored or sponsored actions. “The way to achieve this is dialogue,” he said.
In this context, Ospina told EL TIEMPO that he constantly spoke with Penagos, the elected registrar, about campaign issues: ““I left him a message 4 days ago but he didn’t reply.”
(Also: Attention: State payroll of several organizations was accidentally paid 3 times in Minhacienda)
And about his failed attempts to enter politics, He noted that nearly 10,000 taxi drivers and drivers voted for him and that they were the people he represented.: “The ‘U’ party not only supported me financially, but also supported many candidates. “I came to this movement because I identify with its ideals and someone in the party told me that they supported me because I was a public figure and that was it.”
Ospina entered the political arena with a history that already made him known: the history of judicial cases. sued and protected mobility offices in Medellín, Barranquilla, and Bogota; to ministries, the Capital and even the Presidency.
Even though he ‘filed a lawsuit’ in his own name, The majority of actions are taken to protect their own unions and industry users.
(We invite you to read: Avianca makes a statement about the Salvadoran businessman detained in Bogotá)
Actually, There is a process going on in the Council of State to suspend many articles of the Decree Law No. 2409 of 2018.Changing and renewing the structure of the Transport Inspectorate.
But it has also been the target of legal action. Actress Lina Tejeiro slammed him for calling him a “thug and criminal” after seeing him using the Cabify platform. Ospina needed to correct these statements.
(Also: Attention: famous presenter’s husband was victim of Rolex robbery in Bogotá)
Moreover, Civilian traffic officers reported him for personal injuries, and the judicial defense area of the Bogotá Mobility Secretariat took legal action against him. Because of the warnings he made before the November 22 strike was stopped.
As for the complaints about him; Ospina said that he was not informed and that they had to prove with evidence what they were accusing him of.
EL TIEMPO consulted members of the so-called Taxi Drivers Strike Committee. They assured that Ospina was not their leader and even said that they did not agree with the videos she published on the networks.
(You may be interested in: After Mario Castaño’s body was looted, prisoners in La Picota call for the politician’s release)
“He is one of the union’s 47 spokespeople. Your vote is not more valuable than anyone else’s. We recognize your work, but we also make it clear that most decisions are made by the majority and I think the union is not a political springboard,” said committee member Elías Tuta.
Actually on November 21st When Ospina returned from her doctor’s appointment, she received the news that her colleagues would not go out the next day.
According to Tuta, Ospina “got angry and started posting videos that did not represent us.” But Ospina, who admitted to calling them vile and traitors, assured EL TIEMPO that they are more united than ever.
(We invite you to read: CTI dossier could have removed and leaked data from the case against prosecutor Angélica Monsalve)
In this context, Bogotá Mobility Secretary Deyanira Ávila said, He told EL TIEMPO that the so-called leader of the taxi drivers was not chosen as the spokesperson of neither the businessmen, nor the taxi owners, nor the drivers.people sitting at desks.
“Mr. Ospina does not appear in this ecosystem of representatives. The official emphasized that he was never chosen as a spokesman. “Some media houses give him the category of leader,” added a central-level official.
(Also: Attention: famous presenter’s husband was victim of Rolex robbery in Bogotá)
Asoproctax, association, appears in liquidation. And there are only two taxis named Ospina: a 2011 Hyundai Atos and a 2015 Kia Cerato.
In any case, Jhonatan Castiblanco, another member of the Strike Committee, stated that all leaders, including Ospina, are still waiting for the District to call them.After stopping the 22 November mobilization.
“We are in a permanent assembly and we are waiting to make decisions. If we do not go out to protest, it is not because of fear, but because we want to dialogue. The mayor has stigmatized us and does not call us to dialogue,” Castiblanco said.
(Also: Exclusive: What they would have received from former senator Mario Castaño, who died in La Picota)
The Minister of Mobility announced that there were three issues on his desk, two of which did not concern him: the price of gasoline and the electronic operation card. Regarding the third, the alleged misuse of the subpoena, Deyanira Ávila assured that they were asked to document the alleged procedural errors before handing over the cases.
“We currently have 450 traffic officers as well as Police with whom we carry out checks and prepare summonses. Like every citizen, anyone who disagrees with a sanction can object to it. But they will not withdraw fines or remove cars from yards. “Authority is non-negotiable,” he emphasized.
He stated that the channels are open and they can gather at the table through representatives of each sector. Taxi drivers also expect to be called by the Transport and Mining portfolios to submit other requests.
(You may be interested in: Attention: What was investigated after the news of the attack on President Petro during the election campaign)
Ospina assured A new important meeting will be held on Monday on the future of taxi drivers mobilization.
Hugo Ospina says his union is more united than ever: “We and those who joined the strike committee had misinformation. I did not threaten to cancel the flights, I suggested postponing or canceling them due to delays due to the strike. And yes, I was angry when my colleagues said they would not go out. “I called them vile and traitor because I defined myself as a frontliner.”
(See all articles from EL TIEMPO Investigation Unit here)
And I add: “I wonder what the self-proclaimed leaders have done for the union or does any taxi drivers’ association have a record? I represent Asoproctax. It will be liquidated because when it was established, it was determined that it would last 10 years. “But we are awaiting a meeting to determine whether we will proceed.”
RESEARCH UNIT
u.investigativa@eltiempo.com
@UinvestigativaET
Follow us on Facebook now
Source: Exame
