Colombian authorities, specifically the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, have publicly denied President Gustavo Petro's claims regarding the discovery of 27 charred bodies allegedly found at the Ecuador border. In an interview on March 19, 2026, Ariel Cortés, the director of the institute, confirmed that there are no records supporting these allegations and noted that their daily monitoring of homicide statistics does not reflect any occurrence of such a significant loss of life.

Cortés emphasized that the institute tracks daily homicide data across the country and that while there had been incidents leading to fatalities in the department of Nariño earlier in the year, they were unrelated to any military operations that would result in the number of deaths reported by Petro. Specifically, he referenced a tragic incident in January where fourteen people died in a fire, clarifying that such events do not support the president's claims about bombings resulting in widespread casualties.

This denial raises questions about the accuracy of information being disseminated regarding border safety and military actions, particularly in a sensitive area where tensions between Colombia and Ecuador are palpable. The Colombian government’s swift response to refute Petro’s statements suggests a desire to mitigate rising fears and misinformation that could impact diplomatic relations and the perception of national security along the border.