VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBO #3888 2981948
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241948Z OCT 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5255
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8454
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1233
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 6682
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 2551
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 7369
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 003888
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO
SUBJECT: DAS DIRECTOR RESIGNS OVER OPPOSITION SPYING SCANDAL
REF: BOGOTA 002387
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
SUMMARY
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1. (C) Maria del Pilar Hurtado, director of Colombia's
Administrative Department of Security (DAS), resigned on
October 22 after opposition Senator Gustavo Petro publicly
revealed internal DAS documents that tasked officials to
gather intelligence on Petro and on his party, the Polo
Democratico (PDA). Hurtado's initially blamed a subordinate
for issuing the order and announced his dismissal. She also
denied that she or President Uribe had prior knowledge of the
order. Still, Hurtado later resigned as an "act of public
service." Casa de Narino insiders believe Hurtado was
already on her way out; the spy scandal merely accelerated
her departure. Colombian National Police (CNP) Commander
Naranjo told us presidential advisor Jose ObdulioGaviria
pushed the DAS to collect political intelligence, and he
predicted the political fallout from the scandal will
continue. End Summary.