He studied engineering and a master’s degree in engineering sciences from the Institute of Engineering and Construction in kyiv, Russia, and a doctorate in educational sciences. He was Mayor of Villavicencio in 1987, Governor of the Department of Meta (1990), was part of the Assembly of Meta and again became Governor of the Department (1998-2000) and also served as President of the Colombian Federation of Departments. Kidnapped by the 26th Front of the FARC-EP on July 15, 2001 in the municipality of Lejanías, Department of Meta. Kidnapped by the FARC’s 26th Front on July 15, 2001, in the municipality of Lejanías, department of Meta. He was held prisoner at 44 years old, after having completed his term as governor of Meta. He was working as a United Nations consultant and, weeks before his kidnapping, had expressed his intention to run for Congress. He was a member of the third delegation of armed conflict victims and met with the national government and FARC-EP delegations on October 2, 2014. Representative of victims of the conflict who met with President Juan Manuel Santos on October 11, 2016.
