Motions of censure against Minister Armando Bendetti and Dapre director Angie Rodríguez have been filed in the Chamber.

The request was submitted on Tuesday, May 20, by House Representative John Jairo Berrío of the Democratic Center, who received the support of more than 20 parliamentarians.

The document states that the now former Minister of Justice resigned from her post due to "attempts at interference" and pressure from Benedetti and Rodríguez, who are currently the two most powerful officials in the Casa de Nariño and who whisper in President Gustavo Petro's ear.

"These pressures would have affected her autonomy as head of the Justice portfolio. Former Minister Buitrago formalized her resignation effective June 1, 2025, after deep personal and professional reflection, indicating that her actions do not depend on influence, threats, persuasion, interference, or political interests," the motion request document states.

The parliamentarians add that there are even criminal charges against Benedetti and Rodríguez for alleged influence peddling. According to Buitrago, Benedetti pressured her to appoint several officials to the Ministry of Justice, while she accuses Rodríguez of exerting pressure on matters within the exclusive jurisdiction of the ministry, such as the contracts of INPEC members.

"The actions of the director of Dapre, Angie Rodríguez, and the Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti, if proven, would constitute a serious disregard and/or failure to fulfill the duties inherent to their senior positions, as well as the principles governing public service," the parliamentarians behind the motion add.

Last Thursday, Ángela María Buitrago's resignation letter from the Ministry of Justice, which she assumed in July 2024, became known.

In the letter, the official stated that her departure was linked to the actions of Benedetti and Rodríguez, who denied the allegations and even announced legal action against the now former official.

"I managed to tell him several of the things I had already mentioned in a document that the President has had since March, although I don't know if he's been able to read it. I tried to give him a summary, telling him about the interference they were trying to carry out in prisons, in the movement of inmates, and in certain relationships in particular," Buitrago said in an interview with this newspaper.

"Based on what I told the President in March and then in April with the request to replace the director of Uspec, a situation had been growing that became unsustainable, and that's why I am submitting my letter of resignation," he added in a conversation with EL TIEMPO.

In fact, this newspaper revealed that Rodríguez asked Buitrago to make a change in the direction of Drug Policy and appoint Marcela Tovar Thomas, a philosopher from the National University from the group of Health Minister Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, the political boss of the director of Dapre.

Tovar's resume was published on the presidential website shortly after Buitrago's departure from the Justice Ministry.

Likewise, EL TIEMPO revealed the message Rodríguez sent to the then minister regarding the contracting of INPEC uniforms: “Please, suspend the contracting of INPEC uniforms.”

The House of Representatives' Executive Board is expected to schedule debate on the motion and, subsequently, a vote in the coming weeks.

However, the Government holds the majority in the Chamber, and these motions are unlikely to prosper.