Councilor José Alfredo Ordóñez survives armed attack in Santa Marta, Colombia

On June 19, councilman José Alfredo Ordóñez Gutiérrez – known as “El Cura” – was targeted in an armed assault on the Ruta del Sol near Puerto Mosquito, Santa Marta, Magdalena. Gunmen opened fire on his vehicle; the armor prevented any bullet from entering the cabin, leaving Ordóñez unharmed.

He attended the subsequent district council session wearing a bullet‑proof vest, denouncing what he called institutional negligence after reporting prior threats and requesting protection. Ordóñez linked the violence to his active role in the regional campaign for presidential candidate Abelardo De la Espriella.

The incident revives concerns raised after a separate assault on deputy Rosita Jiménez weeks earlier, highlighting persistent security risks for public officials in the Magdalena department.