Respected Colombian media outlet Semana claimed after the footballer’s dad was freed that his hostage-takers had stolen all his valuables before handing him over
The Roman Catholic bishop who rescued Luis Diaz ’s dad has revealed he has asked him to “marry him again” after losing his wedding band during his 13-day kidnap ordeal .
Monsignor Ceballos, who described on Thursday how he was the first person in the humanitarian team to see Luis Manuel Diaz alive after going to his rescue, said: “He told me I had to marry him again because he had lost his ring. He said he wanted to renew his wedding vows." Monsignor Ceballos did not go into the circumstances of how Luis Manuel had managed to become parted with his wedding ring. It is also known he suffered a knee injury after coming off the motorbike one of his captors was riding.
"He told me he had to walk continuously for two days plus another four days when he was kidnapped. Of the 13 days he was kidnapped he was walking for six days day and night.” The release occurred after several earlier hopes of a rescue failed to materialise. The left-wing insurgent group ELN admitted responsibility for the kidnap late last week. It said a regional unit called the Northern War Front carried out the crime.
Peace talks have been going on between the ELN and the Colombian government since March 2020 when the guerrilla group declared a unilateral ceasefire, although it has continued to take innocent people hostage and make ransom demands.
Roman Catholic Bishop Luis Diaz Wedding Band Kidnap Ordeal Monsignor Francisco Ceballos Wedding Vows Cilenis Marulanda Hostage