Despite the accusations made by various national and foreign media, the Colombian Senate promoted the current Chief of the Army, Martínez Espinosa, to General, the highest military rank, with 64 votes in favor, one against. 43 senators did not enter the chamber in sign of protest.

Martínez Espinosa was supported in his promotion by the senators of the governmental Center

Democratic, the Conservative Party, Radical Change and several liberal representatives. Senator Paloma Valencia defined the general in her speech as a "hero of the motherland" while for its part the Minister of Defense highlighted the "impeccable resume" of the General. The Army in turn issued a statement of support to its Chief hours before the vote.

The controversy surrounding the head of the Army is related to his position as Chief General Staff (EM) of the 10th Armored Brigade, from 2004 to 2006, a period during which this unit is accused of committing 23 "false positives," that is, civilians killed in cold blood by members of the Armed Forces and later presented as guerrillas.

The senior military officer for his part defends that his former position was limited to "administrative" issues. However an official inquiry has been opened by the State prosecutor last week about the possible responsibility of the military in those war crimes, as part of the security policy implemented during the Presidency of Alvaro Uribe, currently a senator. Current President, Iván Duque, who belongs to the same party as Uribe, is considered to be his political heir.