Who is Olmedo López, controversial former director of the UNGRD?
Although Olmedo López maintained a low profile until a few months ago, after passing through the National Risk Management Unit he has become the main witness of a corruption network which involves officials of the Presidency of the Republic, Congressmen and contractors from La Guajira, related to the purchase of tank trucks for the sale of water in the north of the country.
López was appointed as director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) in April 2023 after the departure of Javier Pava from said entity. He is an economist from the Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana and an expert in solidarity economy.
With an extensive career in the Colombian political arena, López served as a councilor of Caramanta, Antioquia, and held key roles as a candidate for the Departmental Assembly and as president of the Polo Democrático in Antioquia. His relationship with President Petro dates back to his participation in the 2018 presidential campaign, where he worked closely with the current president.
In addition to his political experience, López played relevant roles in the public and private spheres. He was a public contractor as legal representative of the El Palmar Community Communication System Corporation, and also served as Secretary of the Environment of Itagüí.
As a left-wing leader, he has been close to political parties such as the Democratic Pole, the Green Alliance Party and other groups from this side. In fact, it was his support for the progressive line that led him to be chosen by President Petro to lead the National Risk Management Unit.
His name began to gain national relevance after a cost overrun became known in the purchase of tank trucks for the water supply in La Guajira, and even more so after the former deputy director of the National Risk Management Unit Sneyder Pinilla will denounce the payment of a bribe, derived from the money from the tank trucks, to the president of the Senate Iván Name and the president of the Chamber Andrés Calle, apparently to facilitate the processing of the legislative change reforms.