Diógenes Quintero
Diógenes Quintero | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Chamber of Representatives | |
| In office 13 March 2022 – 28 January 2026 | |
| Constituency | Special Transitory Peace Constituency of Catatumbo, Norte de Santander |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Diógenes Quintero Amaya 29 May 1989 Hacarí, Norte de Santander, Colombia |
| Died | 28 January 2026 (aged 36) La Playa de Belén, Norte de Santander, Colombia |
| Party | ASODES (Association of Displaced Families of Hacarí) Union Party for the People |
| Education | Free University of Colombia Universidad Externado de Colombia |
Diógenes Quintero Amaya[a] (29 May 1989 – 28 January 2026) was a Colombian lawyer, human rights defender and politician. He served in the Chamber of Representatives for the Special Transitory Peace Constituency of Catatumbo between 2022 and 2026, where he became one of the most representative figures of the peace seats created after the Peace Agreement. He was killed in a plane crash in Norte de Santander while campaigning for re-election to Congress.
Early life and education
[edit]Quintero was born on 29 May 1989, in the village of Agua Blanca, in the municipality of Hacarí, in the Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander, an area historically affected by the armed conflict, forced displacement, and the absence of the state.[1] His father was president of the local community action board for more than three decades, which influenced his early interest in social leadership and community participation.[1]
He studied law at the Free University of Colombia, Cúcuta campus. He later obtained a specialization in administrative law and pursued a master's degree in management for development at the Universidad Externado de Colombia.[2]
Professional career
[edit]Quintero began his public career as a contractor for the Ombudsman's Office. Later, he served as the municipal ombudsman of Hacarí, a position from which he supported victims of the armed conflict and denounced human rights violations. During this period, he was the victim of threats and an attack on his home, which forced him to resign.[2]
In 2019, Quintero was appointed regional ombudsman in Ocaña, one of the areas with the highest rates of violence in Norte de Santander.[3] He founded and served as president of the Association of Ombudsmen of Catatumbo, an organization focused on the defense of human rights and institutional strengthening in the region.[4]
Political career
[edit]Chamber of Representatives
[edit]In the 2022 legislative elections, Quintero was elected to the Chamber of Representatives for the Special Transitory Peace Constituency of Catatumbo,[b] one of the 16 special seats created within the framework of the Peace Agreement for the regions most affected by the armed conflict.[5] He obtained approximately 5,700 votes and was endorsed by organizations of victims of forced displacement.[4]
During his legislative term, Quintero was a member of, among others, the First Permanent Constitutional Commission, the Third Permanent Constitutional Commission, and the Interparliamentary Commission on Public Credit.[6] His work focused on the implementation of the Peace Agreement, comprehensive rural reform, victims' rights, and strengthening rural development in the Catatumbo region.[7]
Controversy
[edit]Quintero's election was challenged by Ascamcat, a campesino association based in Catatumbo, which alleged that he was ineligible to serve, that there had been irregularities in the vote count, and that the mayor of Hacarí had shown favoritism towards his candidacy. The Council of State, however, dismissed the claims and upheld his election to the Chamber.[1]
Re-election
[edit]On 5 December 2025, Quintero registered to seek re-election in the March 2026 legislative election.[8][9]
Death and legacy
[edit]On 28 January 2026, Quintero died in a plane crash in the rural area of the municipality of La Playa de Belén, Norte de Santander, while traveling on a regional flight operated by the airline SATENA from Cúcuta to Ocaña; his assistant, Natalia Acosta, and other members of his team were also on the flight.[8][10]
He is remembered as one of the leading voices of the Catatumbo region in the Congress of the Republic and as a representative of the communities victimized by the armed conflict, standing out for his commitment to peace, human rights, and rural development.[1]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Spanish pronunciation: [diˈoxenes kinˈteɾo aˈmaʝa]. In this Hispanic American name, the first or paternal surname is Quintero and the second or maternal family name is Amaya.
- ^ Comprising the municipalities of Convención, El Carmen, El Tarra, Hacarí, San Calixto, Sardinata, Teorama and Tibú.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Daniela Cristancho (1 June 2023). "Diógenes Quintero: velar por el Catatumbo desde el Congreso". El Espectador. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Quién es Diógenes Quintero Amaya". La Silla Vacía (in Spanish). 22 March 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ ""Trabajaré por el Catatumbo": Diógenes Quintero, curul de paz". Caracol Radio (in Spanish). 15 March 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Diógenes Quintero Amaya" (in Spanish). Chamber of Representatives of Colombia. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Curules para la paz: Estas son las 16 personas que van a llegar a ocuparlas". El Tiempo (in Spanish). 15 March 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Diógenes Quintero Amaya, nuevo integrante de la Comisión Interparlamentaria de Crédito Público". Chamber of Representatives of Colombia (in Spanish). 25 February 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "El congresista colombiano Diógenes Quintero iba entre los pasajeros de avión desaparecido en noreste del país". El Universo. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ a b "¿Quién era Diógenes Quintero, el congresista que murió en la avioneta de Satena?". Noticias RCN (in Spanish). 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ Suárez, Astrid (29 January 2026). "Cause of plane crash in Colombia that killed 15, including Congress member, under investigation". ABC News.
- ^ Mario Alejandro Rodríguez (28 January 2026). "Luto en el Capitolio por muerte del representante Diógenes Quintero: estos son los congresistas fallecidos en el presente cuatrienio". Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- 1989 births
- 2026 deaths
- People from Norte de Santander Department
- Members of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia
- Colombian human rights activists
- 21st-century Colombian lawyers
- Free University of Colombia alumni
- Universidad Externado de Colombia alumni
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Colombia
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2026
- 21st-century Colombian politicians