Due to the Milei-Villarruel war and bureaucratic delays, the transfer of Sergeant Cabral's remains to Corrientes was at risk, but the ceremony will finally take place.

The return of the remains of the historic Sergeant Cabral to his hometown of Saladas, Corrientes, was mired in controversy last week, including bureaucratic misunderstandings, suspicions surrounding the invitation to Vice President Victoria Villarruel, and heated conversations between municipal, provincial, and national officials until the municipality confirmed this Friday that the ceremony would take place on Saturday, as planned.

In Saladas, the arrival of a portion of the remains of the Corrientes hero Juan Bautista Cabral has been eagerly awaited since the claims began eighty years ago. According to the mayor's office, the official reception will take place this Saturday starting at 3 p.m., in an event that will feature the participation of authorities, the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers, a civic parade, and a festival starting at 8 p.m.

Mayor Noel Gómez's announcements were overshadowed this week by a warning from officials from the Ministry of Defense and the National Commission of Monuments and Historic Sites regarding the impossibility of transferring the remains that rest in Santa Fe amid a tangle of misunderstandings, rumors, and misunderstandings .

In this context, Gómez himself told Radio Mitre that they were "saddened by this circumstance" given that for the people of Corrientes it was "a momentous event to welcome the soldiers who fell in combat, especially our hero" Cabral. He also specified that they had been working since 2022 on the project to recover the remains of those who fell in the battle of February 3, 1813, so that they could "have in Saldas this symbol" representing the soldier who saved the life of General José San Martín.

But a notification sent by Mónica Susana Capano almost halted everything because, according to Gómez, she "called him very upset because she had received a warning from the Ministry of Defense and the Provincial Government," informing them that the decision to send the remains "was going to be revoked for not following certain guidelines" from the Commission to agree on the intervention of those two bodies.

Gómez clarified that invitations had been sent "to the highest authorities of the Nation," including President Javier Milei and Vice President Villarruel. While she did not indicate whether there had been any official confirmations of attendance, Corrientes media outlets assumed the Senate President would participate in the event.

"We are more than comfortable with this municipal administration , having followed all the procedures and handled ourselves correctly so that this can be achieved," he added, trusting in the good work of Defense Minister Luis Petri, with whom his officials communicated.

Finally, after receiving approval from the departments of Culture and the National Museums Commission, Saladas authorities were able to move forward with maintaining this Saturday's event as planned.

Act 2 August 🇦🇷Eternal Glory and Immortality to Sergeant Juan Bautista Cabral 🇦🇷We invite you to witness one of the most important events in the history of this city. The land of heroes receives the remains of the Horse Grenadiers.

We'll be waiting for you 🙌 pic.twitter.com/6EtYpafrk0

— Municipality of Saladas (@munidesaladas) July 27, 2025

Municipal Government Secretary Nicolás Guidobono confirmed to Clarín this Friday that "the events will take place as planned , and the important thing is that Cabral is returning."

"Fortunately, with dialogue among everyone , it was resolved in time. It's all just a memory, and it was a stressful week," the official added.

Born in the city of Saladas, Corrientes, between 1785 and 1790, Juan Bautista Robledo enlisted in the Army in 1812 and there changed his surname and took the name Juan Bautista Cabral.

He was the son of Carmen Robledo, a slave, and José Francisco, an aboriginal laborer at the Tomasa Casajus ranch, who later married Luis Cabral.

According to historical records, during the Battle of San Lorenzo, General José de San Martín's horse was killed by an enemy volley and trapped the Liberator's leg, but Cabral freed him from the animal's weight, in an action that was immortalized in the emblematic March of San Lorenzo , which christened him a "heroic soldier."

Cabral received two wounds there that led to his death. Before leaving this world, he said: "I die happy, we have defeated the enemy!"

He was buried near the historic pine tree of the San Carlos convent in Santa Fe, as a grenadier without rank, but years later he was promoted to sergeant and buried with his other thirteen comrades in glory, next to the south wall of the cemetery of that religious institution in the Santa Fe town of San Lorenzo.

To immortalize his action, the legend "Juan Bautista Cabral died heroically on the field of honor" was placed on the barracks gate.