Hernán Andrade speaks about the reasons for a loan of 250 million COP ($113,000 USD) that the controversial Armando Cabrera made to him
SEMANA: Were the IOUs that were found in the raid yours?
Hernán Andrade: In the beginning of 2006 I asked about in Neiva who made loans. They pointed me to Armando Cabrera. I remember that the figure was 250 million, and the interest was 2 percent. I don’t remember details, but it is true that after years of not seeing Armando, who had helped out before in another campaign, he made the loan to me.
SEMANA: What was this money for?
H.A.: I can’t say that the objective was strictly for the elections. If it were two or three months before the campaign, but it was also for my normal operations. For a business operation. Armando Cabrera was an acquaintance.
SEMANA: So some of this money was used for electoral objectives?
H.A.: No, it was an operation of mine. Personal. It was not used for the campaign but for my business activities, and I paid it off afterwards.
SEMANA: You received the money in cash?
H.A.: Yes, in cash. I am sure.
SEMANA: You don’t find it strange for someone to have 250 million pesos available?
H.A.: Well, it’s because I don’t know if it was in two installments… or if he had cashed a check... I don’t have those details.
SEMANA: The two IOUs are not filled out, the only thing that is registered is the amount, but not when or how they will be paid. Are you accustomed to sign IOUs in this fashion?
H.A.: I cannot say that they were not filled out. I am not accustomed to sign IOUs like that, I don’t know why they weren’t filled out. What I do know is that they loaned me money and I signed it.
SEMANA: If you paid the debt why did you not cancel the IOU?
H.A.: I canceled a part… when I was finishing to pay they captured Armando and I did not know what to do with the money, to whom I had to pay.
SEMANA: What did you do when you found out about his arrest?
H.A.: I introduced myself to the authorities. At the appropriate time I will explain this. I went to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
SEMANA: Who did you speak with there?
H.A.: I spoke with the general authority, the details I will explain at the appropriate time.
SEMANA: You said that Cabrera helped you finance another campaign. Which?
H.A.: No, not at all. They are well-known people here in Huila. And in some campaign I remember speaking with Armando at my campaign headquarters. But he never financed my campaigns.
SEMANA: At the end of the 1990s you had a debate about Cajanal. How can you say you didn’t know that Armando Cabrera had been condemned for seven years for embezzling from that entity?
H.A.: From what I know, the person who had legal problems because of Cajanal was Omar, his brother. Armando did not have a criminal record. I didn’t suspect anything wrong. I assumed that the origin of the money was legal.
SEMANA: One IOU is from March 7, 2006 and the other from the 10th. The elections were on the 12th. Isn’t it strange that in the final stretch of the campaign you were looking for a loan for a personal business deal?
H.A.: I will provide explanations. I will provide commercial explanations to the authorities.
SEMANA: Do you know Oscar Torres?
H.A.: Yes, he is a lawyer who came to me four months ago. They introduced me to him and pointed out that he was a soccer businessman.
SEMANA: This magazine has information about three meetings in which you have introduced him to help you with pensions.
H.A.: I have never had anything to do with him. I met him in my office. He introduced himself to me with a journalists and we spoke about soccer.