BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian presidential candidate Rodolfo Hernandez said on Thursday he was canceling any remaining in-person appearances at campaign events because he is certain his life is in danger.
The anti-establishment Hernandez, 77, is running neck and neck against leftist Gustavo Petro, who has also previously denounced threats on his life.
A national police spokesman said they had no information about threats against Hernandez but were investigating.
“I am certain that my life is at risk,” Hernandez said on Twitter in a series of posts about a leaked video showing a Petro advisor discussing strategy.
In the tweets, Hernandez referred to Petro and his supporters as a “criminal gang.” Petro says the video is proof his campaign is being targeted.
All of Hernandez’s remaining in-person appearances will be canceled, his campaign said in a statement. A Bogota rally on Saturday will go ahead, with the candidate appearing virtually.
Petro canceled events in the country’s coffee region in May after his office said there was a plot by a gang to assassinate him.
The government eventually provided Petro with additional security and the police – who initially said they had no information on the plot – said they would investigate.
Hernandez is a civil engineer who says he amassed a fortune of $100 million via his construction company.
He has pledged to shrink government, provide drug addicts with free narcotics to destroy the drug trade and fully implement a 2016 peace deal with leftist rebels.
Though he has employed fiery rhetoric against corruption, Hernandez is under investigation for allegedly intervening in a trash collection tender while mayor of Bucaramanga to benefit a company his son had lobbied for. He denies the accusations.
Petro, an ex-rebel and current senator, has promised a generous package of social measures to right profound inequality.
The two candidates must cease all public events from Sunday, ahead of the vote on June 19.
(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
