Western Bloc of the FARC-EP


The Western Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia was the smallest of the organization blocs in size, although not in military capability. It was routinely held responsible for attacks that occurred in Cali and its surroundings. The specific divisions of the group are arguable. Some of its divisions or 'fronts', as they were commonly called, are shown below. Many of these fronts sometimes worked together towards a certain mission, while others were further divided into 'columns' and 'companies' with a smaller number of members. For more general information, see FARC-EP Chain of Command.

Commanders

6th Front

Also known as the Hernando González Acosta Front, it was composed of 400 to 500 people as of 2011. It operated mostly in the Cauca and Valle del Cauca Departments.
AliasNameNote
Sargento Pascuas, "Humberto"Miguel Ángel PascuasOne of the founders of the guerrilla in 1964, Front commander.
RubénOperational commander
El ZorroOscar Ivan GuguOne of the 'leaders' of FARC's 6th Front. Captured in January 2012.

On September 19, 2008, heavy fighting occurred between the Colombian army and the FARC's sixth front during an attack on Toribío, Cauca Department. On April 27, 2013, 17 members of the front were captured while they attempted to steal a helicopter from the Colombian armed forces.

Mobile Column Alonso Cortés

The Mobile Column Alonso Cortés, composed of up to 50 men, operated in the same area as the 6th Front.
AliasNameNote
El MochoRicardo MoralesSecond in charge of the Mobile Column Alonso Cortés. Arrested in February 2011
"El Paisa" or "William"Carlos Mario Cardona LeónCaptured in April 2011.

8th Front

It was composed by up to 80 men, and operated mostly in the Cauca Department and along the Pacific coast.
AliasNameNote
RamírezN/AKilled in 2006, apparently by ELN.
YesidArlex Porras GómezCaptured in 2006.
"El Rojo"Captured in 2003.

29th Front

It was composed by up to 250 men and operated mostly in the Nariño Department. It included the mobile column Daniel Aldana which operated in the Tumaco area. In late April 2013, 13 alleged members of the column were captured.
AliasNameNote
Aldemar, Jhon Jairo
AnuarOrlando CardozoCaptured in 2005.
Camilo, RicardoJairo Cuarán CollazosAbandoned FARC in 2003 and found exile in Chile.

30th Front

Also known as the José Antonio Páez Front, it was composed of up to 300 people. It operated mostly in the Cauca and Valle del Cauca Departments. The front led drug trafficking activities in the areas near the Yurumangui river and was responsible for multiple attacks against civilians on Colombia's Pacific coast. On March 2011, 10 guerillas were killed by the army, and 5 others captured. On October 2, 2011, 3 guerillas were killed and 2 captured. On February 11, the 30th front attacked an army base, killing 3 and injuring 18 member of the Colombian army.
AliasNameNote
MinchoJorge Neftali Umenza Velasco, or Herminsul de Jesús Velasco1st commander. Killed in a bombardment in October 20, 2011
JeffersonJaime Renteria MosqueraCommander of a special unit of the 30th Front. Demobilized in December 2011 with 9 others guerrillas of the 30th Front
FreddyLuis Eduardo Prada González

Mobile column Miller Perdomo forms a part of this front.

60th Front

It was composed of up to 60 men and operated mostly in the Cauca Department.
AliasNameNote
"El Grillo"Gilberto Arroyabe
"Arturo"N/AKilled in 2006.

Mobile Column Jacobo Arenas

It was composed by up to 300 men and operated mostly in the Cauca Department. The column is suspected to be responsible for an attack which killed six soldiers on February 9, 2009.
AliasNameNote
Caliche, Floresmiro AcostaCarlos Patiño killed in 2013
'Eladio'Killed in 2009
KinkónCarlos Duval Ilipio DizúCaptured in 2006.

Mobile Column Arturo Ruiz

It was one of the FARC's elite units, among its most notorious operations is the kidnapping of the Valle del Cauca deputies on April 11, 2002.

Mobile Column Gabriel Galvis

Operated in Valle del Cauca. It had 110 fighters or more as of 2011.

Mobile Column Víctor Saavedra

Operates in Valle del Cauca and, especially, in the mountains east of Tuluá.

Urban Front Manuel Cepeda Vargas

It was composed by up to 50 men and was one of the FARC's strongest factions in Cali.
AliasNameNote
El EnanoChief of militias in Cali
NaricesIván Cárdenas CarrilloKilled in 2010
SantiagoGustavo Arbeláez CardonaArrested in 2008.
J.J.Milton Sierra GómezKilled in 2007.
Farid, RafaelGabriel Antonio CarvajalCaptured in 2005.
"Miller Chacón" or "El Médico"KIA in May 2011.