The Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, admitted this Thursday that the search continues for the four children who disappeared in a plane crash that occurred in the jungles of the south of the country 18 days ago, while regretting what happened by announcing that the minors were found alive. in information that, he now confesses, "has not been able to be confirmed."
The Head of State announced this Wednesday on Twitter: "After arduous search efforts by our Military Forces, we have found alive the 4 children who had disappeared due to the plane crash in Guaviare."
Petro, who uses social networks to report on key government issues, wrote today: “I have decided to delete the trill [tweet] because the information provided by the ICBF could not be confirmed. I'm sorry about what happened."
The Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) said yesterday in a statement that it received information that the children aged 13, 9 and 4, in addition to the 11-month-old baby, were found alive.
"On the afternoon of this May 17 (...) information was received from the territory that ensures contact with the four boys and girls who were part of the people who were transported on the aircraft," the ICBF said in a statement. .
The agency, which works for the prevention and comprehensive protection of children and adolescents, pointed out that the minors, according to the report made by indigenous communities, "had been found alive and that they also enjoy good health."
But the Military Forces, who are leading the search efforts, could not confirm the discovery yesterday and continue to insist that they continue looking for them in this remote and leafy area of the country with a very adverse climate.
At the moment they have found the aircraft with the three bodies of the adults who were traveling with the four children and some clues of the minors, such as an improvised shelter in the jungle, some scissors and a baby's bottle.
Petro added in his message today that the Military Forces and the indigenous communities will continue in "their tireless search to give the country the news it is waiting for."
Likewise, he stressed that “at this moment there is no other priority than that of advancing with the search until they are found. Children's lives are the most important thing."
Petro ordered ICBF director Astrid Cáceres this Thursday to travel to the jungle department of Guaviare to continue the search for 13-year-old Lesly Mucutuy; Soleiny Mucutuy, 9; Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, 4, and Cristin Neriman Ranoque Mucutuy, 11 months.
On the other hand, the Mucutuy Valencia and Mendoza Hernández families rejected the misinformation that has circulated and asked for respect in the face of the false expectations that have been generated.
"Physical and emotional health is not a game that can be erased and/or easily forgotten," says a statement from the families released by local media.
The document added: "The persecution of the media to give statements not only disregards our rights, but also violence and fuels pain."
Likewise, they thanked the company Avianline Charter's and the entities that have supported the search for their loved ones.
"We request all the competent entities to carry out the due diligence and investigations that may take place to determine the causes of the accident," the statement concluded.
The plane, operated by the Avianline Charter's company, was flying between Araracuara, a remote town located on the border between the departments of Caquetá and Amazonas, and San José del Guaviare when an emergency was declared.
From that moment on, a search plan was deployed that included three helicopters and more than 100 people in the hope of finding the children.
