Colombia’s former army commander and retired General Eduardo Zapateiro is accused of sexually harassing a subordinate during his tenure (2019–2022). The complaint emerged yesterday and alleges the harassment occurred through WhatsApp chat messages.
According to the complaint, Zapateiro—who served as the highest-ranking commander of Colombia’s armed forces under President Iván Duque—sexually harassed Liliana del Pilar Zambrano, the partner of Colonel José Luis Esparza. Esparza was discharged from the army under what a court ruling last week determined to be an “arbitrary” order from Zapateiro.
General Zapateiro, ex-Commander of Colombia’s army, accused of sexual harassment
General Eduardo Zapateiro left his position just days before President Gustavo Petro took office. Since then, leveraging his retired status from the armed forces, he has become one of the most vocal critics of the current government.
However, controversy surrounding this polarizing military figure escalated significantly on Sunday, March 30, following reports of a complaint against him for alleged sexual harassment of a subordinate during his leadership of Colombia’s armed forces.
The complaint alleges that the general sent harassing messages via WhatsApp to Liliana del Pilar Zambrano, who at the time was the partner of Colonel Jose Luis Esparza. Esparza was removed from the army by Zapateiro’s order—a decision recently deemed “arbitrary” by a court.
Prominent journalist Daniel Coronell discovered, within a section of the Bogota court ruling ordering Esparza’s reinstatement, evidence of what appeared to be sexual advances toward Zambrano. She is a lawyer by profession and was working as a contractor for the military at the time of the incidents.
Messages from a cellphone number identified by Coronell as belonging to the then-commander of the Military Forces included: “Let me see you from head to toe. In your panties or with nothing on!!!”
In response to this proposition, the victim replied with a blushing-face emoji, which in Colombia is interpreted as signaling surprise or discomfort in such contexts.
Eduardo Zapateiro’s reaction to her rejection escalated: “Well, okay, I didn’t say anything. Be careful when you go to the bathroom. When there’s a will, there’s a way. I want to see you. Do it. Hello! Hello Hello Hello [sic],” he wrote from his phone number.
Harassment and ‘arbitrary’ discharge of victim’s husband in the Army
Daniel Coronell claims there are additional chats with more explicit content proving the sexual harassment extended beyond this exchange, though the journalist has not published them “out of respect for the victim.”
Notably, the victim was romantically involved with Colonel Esparza, one of the leaders of Operación Jaque—the 2008 mission that secured the rescue of 15 hostages held by the FARC, including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and two American contractors.
Shortly before Esparza was set to begin training for promotion to general, Zapateiro discharged him from the army. The case went to court, where the ruling found “abuse of power” in the decision to remove him under the pretext of “service evaluation.”
Consequently, the court declared the discharge “partially void,” ordered Esparza’s reinstatement, and mandated payment—with interest—of “salaries, social benefits, and other unpaid entitlements.”
Although it will bear the financial cost, Colombia’s Ministry of Defense will not appeal the ruling.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Zapateiro resigned this morning from his role as security advisor to the Tolima Governor’s Office, a position he had assumed in February.