Human Rights Groups Call for Colombia’s Ombudsman Jorge Armando Otálora’s Resignation Amid Sexual Harassment Scandal
Colombia's Ombudsman Jorge Armando Otálora is currently in the middle of sexual harassment scandal that caused a major uproar in the nation. The accusations came after Otálora's former personal secretary Astrid Helena Cristancho revealed the "abusive relationship" on Semana.
Lawyer and former model Cristancho detailed her ordeal to Semana journalist Daniel Coronell, who revealed photos, documents and screenshots of conversations that showed how she was harassed by Otálora.
The relationship initially started with dinner invitations and outside of work engagement. But apparently, it turned to late-night calls and suggestive images. Cristancho also revealed that he even pimped her out to one of his colleagues, Latin Correspondent noted.
"The relationship that existed was only of abuse, threats, fear, insults, and manipulation," Cristancho said. "He wants to hide all of these by saying that there was love. That's not true."
Cristancho, who formally filed a complaint on Monday with the Attorney General, also revealed that she was sexually abused for two years before finally leaving office. But when asked why she did not immediately report the incidents, she admitted that she was afraid.
"I have witnesses, men and women, who have seen the abuse," she added. "I have evidence of cases of women who said that the same thing happened to them, but did not report because of fear. He is a powerful person who has lots of money."
Otálora, on the other hand, defended himself by saying he fell in love and the photos were taken out of context.
"I had a relationship with her," Otálora told Colombia's Caracol News on Sunday. "I fell in love with a very intelligent person whom I shared important things in my life. She was so important that I even thought of us having a child."
"The photographs are the result of trust in a relationship between couples who spent very nice moments," the Ombudsman added. "I will provide evidence, I have witnesses who frequent the restaurants where we ate."
Meanwhile, Otálora is no stranger to being called an "abusive boss." As a matter of fact, the abuse experienced by his employees was first reported in September 2015. And the most notorious resignation was that of deputy ombudsman Juan Manual Osorio, who revealed Otálora's mistreatment on his resignation letter.
Cristancho's resignation letter also mirrored Osorio's statements. But following the publication of Osorio and Cristancho's resignation letters, Otálora requested senior executives to sign a statement dismissing the allegations.
Due to the sexual harassment scandal, human rights groups have called for Otálora's immediate resignation. Prensa Latina added the Alternative Democratic Pole and the Green Alliance congressmen have also sent him a letter demanding his resignation, while the Liberal Party senators and other government officials have withdrawn their support.
Otálora, however, insisted that he will not step down from office despite the demands for his resignation.
"I think the situation is part of my personal life, an intimate relationship with a person," Otálora said. "The issues did not compromise or put at stake the stability of the Institution. The Office's ability to respond to the public's demands are not affected," he said.
In order to shed more light on the scandal, the Attorney General's Office has started a preliminary investigation on Wednesday.
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