Colombia police chief says priests use exorcism, prayer to tackle crime

BOGOTA, Colombia : Colombia's chief of police said he and other officers had used exorcism and prayer to tackle crime and the country's most powerful criminals, including drug cartel leader Pablo Escobar.

General Henry Sanabria told local media on Saturday that these religious practices have helped the police over the last 50 years of armed conflict in the South American country, surrounded by crucifixes, effigies of the Virgin Mary and other Catholic symbols.

He recalled police operations in 1993 in which FARC guerrilla leader Alfonso Cano and his military chief, known as Mono Jojoy, were killed.

The existence of the devil is certain. I have seen him. Sanabria claimed criminals used witchcraft and said a police officer had been able to kill one of them by praying while shooting. His statements have sparked fierce debates on social media in Colombia, a country with Catholic traditions.

He said that it is as simple as that. We know the beliefs of the general, but we try to make sure that these beliefs do not affect the rules. He has respected them, as far as we know. The police chief's statements have caused the police chief to make a lot of controversy.

Sanabria has spoken against abortion, which is legal in Colombia until the 24th week of pregnancy, and the use of condoms he called an abortive method last October. He also described Halloween as a satanic holiday and wrote a tweet about Women's Day on Mar 8 that was accused of being sexist.

A woman's charm makes her husband happy, and if she is reasonable, she makes it last. A discreet woman is a gift from the Lord, he wrote.