The father of the star of football Luis Diaz is in the hands of the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group. This was confirmed by the delegation that negotiates with the organization on behalf of the government. “Today we have officially learned that the kidnapping of Luis Manuel Diaz and Cilenis Marulanda, which took place on October 28 in Barrancas, was carried out by an ELN unit”, said Otto Patino, the government's chief negotiator. Gustavo Petro's government has asked the ELN to immediately release the hostage.

The Colombian guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) later confirmed that it was responsible for the kidnapping of Luis Manuel Díaz and assured that it would release him shortly. “The National Liberation Army will free Mr. Díaz's father as soon as possible”, wrote on social media Juan Carlos Cuéllar, ELN delegate for peace dialogue with the government.

Cuéllar's statements came after the Colombian government delegation for peace talks accused the ELN of the kidnapping. The incident could affect the ELN's talks with President Gustavo Petro's government, which wants to end a sixty-year internal conflict that has left more than 450.000 dead.