The Eastern Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, from September 2010 known as Bloque Comandante Jorge Briceño, in honour of the slain guerrilla leader, was considered to be the strongest military faction of the guerrilla group. It was divided into groups of 50–400 combatants in each group, which patrolled and controlled different areas of Colombia's Eastern and Central-Eastern territory, as well as helped to carry out the killings, taxation, and arrests necessary to advance the organization's financial and political goals.
The specific divisions of the group are arguable. Some of the believed 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 Chain of Command.
Commanders This group of commanders was called the "EMBO" (Estado Mayor del Bloque Oriental). Alias Name Note "El Simio" Juan Esteban Arias Robayo Commands Bloque Jorge Briceño "El picha corta" Juan Camilo Pita Gordillo US Department of State. "Noe Suarez Rojas" Available online. Accessed January 23, 2008. "Pipilin/Felipelotas" Felipe Avella Rincón US Department of State. "si cae una caen tres" Available online. Accessed January 23, 2008. "si cae una caen tres" Carlos Antonio LozadaUS Department of State. "Luis Antonio Lozada" Available online. Accessed January 24, 2008. Injured by a Colombian army attack in August 2007.El Tiempo. "Ejército atacó campamento de Carlos Antonio Lozada" Available online. Accessed January 24, 2008. "Romaña" Henry Castellanos Garón US Department of State. "Henry Castellanos Garzon" Available online. Accessed January 24, 2008. "Manuel" or "Pata Palo" Pablo Emilio Rodríguez After the death of "Mono Jojoy", he took over the finances of the Eastern Bloc, under the orders of his brother Noe Suarez Rojas, alias "Grannobles". Captured in April 2011. Andrés París Alexandra Tanja Nijmeijer "Brian", "Braian", or "Brayan" Fardy Edilson Para Parra Involved in extortion on behalf of FARC. He belonged to the front 27, 31, 40 and 53, respectively. Captured on September 2, 2011.
1st Front Also known as the Armando Ríos Front, it was composed of around to 400 people. It operated mostly in the Guaviare Department.
Alias Name Note Reynaldo El Espectador. "La nueva estrategia de ‘Cano’" Available Online. Accessed September 28, 2008. César Gerardo Aguilar RamírezLas voces del secuestro. "El poder del guerrillero que entregó al niño Emmanuel" Available online. Accessed January 24, 2008. Arrested in 2008 during Operation Jaque.BBC News. "How the Colombian hostages were freed" Available online Doris Adriana Luz Dary Conde Arrested in 2008.El Tiempo. "Capturada alias 'Doris Adriana', del primer frente de las Farc, anunció el comandante del Ejército" Available online. Accessed February 2, 2008. Alfredo Handed himself over to the Army in April 2010 with "Jair" and a hostage girl. Jair Handed himself over to the Army in April 2010 with "Alfredo" and a hostage girl.
7th Front Also known as the Jacobo Prías Alape Front, it was composed of up to 400 people. It operated mostly in the Meta Department.
Alias Name Note Nancy Astrid Conte Gutierrez One of the leaders of the Front, captured in June 2012.
10th Front Also known as the Guadalupe Salcedo Front, it was composed of up to 300 people. It operated mostly in the Arauca Department.
Several police officers infiltrated one of the FARC’s 10th front camp in early 2008, preparing an attack on the camp by a police squadron. The attack came on July 29, killing 'Jurga Jurga', FARC commander and friend of FARC head ‘Mono Jojoy’. The ground offensive was follow by an airforce attack, killing 20 guerrillas, unofficial sources said. On October 22, 2011, members of the front killed 10 Colombians soldiers in an ambush in Arauca. On March 17, 2012, alleged members of the 10th front killed 11 members of the Colombian army. Security forces launched an offensive few days after the attack: on March 20, 3 alleged member of the FARC are killed and 4 captured by the army. On March 21, 33 FARC members were allegedly killed and 5 others captured.
Alias Name Note "El Marrano" Carlos Julio Ávila Accused of executing three US citizens in 1999.Colombia Support. "Colombian Rebels Confess To Killing 3 Americans" Available online . Accessed January 24, 2008. "Jurga Jurga" Killed by Colombian security forces on July 29, 2008 Available online. "Camilo Tuerto" Captured by Colombian security forces on April 11, 2009. Also second in command for the Reinel Mendez Company.Available online. "Lorena" Captured on May 16, 2010, member of the Reinel Mendez Company.. "Milton Díaz" Jhon Javier Ariza Gil Also second in command for the Mobile Column Afonso Castellanos. Killed by Colombian security forces in August, 2010 Available online. "Fabian" Killed by Colombian security forces on October 8, 2010,Available online.http://www.lanacion.com.py/noticias_um-330032.htm he had replaced "Milton". "Katerine" María Johana Arias Jáuregui Killed by Colombian security forces on October 8, 2010 She was lover of alias "Grannobles". "Viviana" Alleged guerrilla girlfriend of 10th Front commander "Efren". Wounded and captured in July 2011. "Perico" One of the head front commander, captured on October 25. "Misael Second front commander. Killed on March 21st, 2012. "Carracho" Danielo Benavidez Financial and logistical head of the front. Captured on August 18, 2012. "Yudi" Alleged "Carracho" daughter. Medics of the front. Captured on August 18, 2012. "David" and "Chocha Linda" William Alexander Salazar Acosta Front commander. Killed on September 23, 2012.
16th Front Also known as the Jose A. Paez Front, it was composed of up to 300 people. It operated mostly in the Vichada Department.
Alias Name Note Guillermo "El Negro Acacio" Tomás Medina Caracas Killed in 2007.El Tiempo. "'Raúl Reyes' admitió que el 'Negro Acacio', jefe del frente 16 de las Farc, está muerto" Available online. Accessed January 24, 2008. Gentil Alvis Patiño, "El Chigüiro" Juan José Martínez Vega Captured in Venezuela in 2005. "Octavio Cocopi" Killed on January 1, 2011."Muere en combate segundo cabecilla de la cuadrilla 16 de las Farc" Available online. Accessed January 2, 2011.
22nd Front Also known as the Simón Bolívar Front, it was composed of up to 120 people. It operated mostly in the Cundinamarca Department.
Alias Name Note Hugo Wílmer Antonio Marín Cano Captured in 2003.El Mundo. "Detienen en Colombia a 'Hugo', el 'zar del secuestro' en las FARC" Available online. Accessed January 24, 2008. "Géner Lara Muñoz", "Lucio" or "Lucio 40" Néstor Ramírez Muñoz He is a nephew of Luis Alberto Morantes, alias "Jacobo Arenas" (Founder and leader of FARC). Captured in April 2011. Judith Paola Andrea Arévalo Captured in April 2011.
26th Front Also known as the Hermogenes Maza Front, it was composed of up to 130 people. It operated mostly in the Meta Department. As of 2011 this front operated in La Uribe, Vista Hermosa, La Macarena and other municipalities.
Alias Name Note Hugo Sandóval Ruiz Ángel Oviedo Yara Killed in 2007.Comando General Fuerzas Militares de Colombia. "Muere en combate autor material del secuestro del ex gobernador del Meta Alan Jara" Available online . Accessed January 24, 2008. Hermidas Wálter Flórez Candil Captured in 2004. Pablo Neruda Fabián Bedoya Salamanca Captured on April 10, 2010. Kevin Demobilized in April 2010. Gabino Demobilized in April 2010. "Jaime Guey" or "Guaimaro" Captured in April 2010, by the Police in Engativá (Cundinamarca).
27th Front It was composed of up to 500 people and operated mostly in the Meta Department.
Alias Name Note Arcesio Niño Killed on 22-03-12. Efrén Luis Eduardo López Méndez "Jhon 40" Gener García Molina "El médico" or "el tío" Elver Uriel Rodriguez Captured on March 27, 2008 El Pija Rodrigo Gaitán Rincón Captured on April 5, 2010. Pitufo Bertulfo Caicedo Garzón Captured. Jailed in the Cómbita prison. Mariela Handed herself to the Army on October 28, 2010.
28th Front Also known as the José María Córdoba Front, it was composed of up to 120 people. It operated mostly in the Casanare and Boyacá Departments.
Alias Name Note Julián Arévalo Aristipo Aponte Alvarado Killed in April 2014. Alberto Guevara José Nelson Garzón Captured in 2003. Pirinolo Alexánder Beltrán Warder of the US hostages Gonsalves, Stansell and Howes. Captured in February 2011.
31st Front This front was composed by up to 120 combatants and operated mostly in the Meta Department. Its activity diminished notoriously after its head, Duván Alberto Cartagena, was captured.
38th Front Also known as the Ciro Trujillo Castaño Front, it was composed of up to 100 people. It operated mostly in the Casanare and the Boyacá Departments.
Alias Name Note Rogelio Front leader Karen Bodyguard of Efraín Méndez, killed in April 2012 Sandra Bodyguard of Efraín Méndez, killed in April 2012 Sucre Bodyguard of Efraín Méndez, killed in April 2012 Yaír Félix Antonio Lara Cifuentes Captured in 2004.
39th Front Also known as the Joaquin Ballen Front, it was composed of anything between 40 and 300 people. It operated mostly in the Vichada Department. The front was led by El Cadete.
Alias Name Note "Jacinto", "El Danto" Killed in 2003. "El Topo" Octavio Ruiz Earlier he had belonged to the 16th Front. Killed on August 10, 2010.
40th Front Also known as the Jacobo Arenas Front, it was composed of up to 350 people. It operated mostly in the Meta Department.
Alias Name Note "El Flaco Iván" Rodrigo Alberto Salazar Montoya Captured in 2005. Chucho Gilberto de Jesús Jaramillo Arias Captured in 2005. Tocayo, El Negro Demobilized in April 2010. (Son of John Freddy Balcázar alias “El Negro Antonio”) Santiago Handed himself over to the Army in July 2010. Caballo Demobilized on October 26, 2010.
42nd Front Also known as the Combatientes de Cundinamarca Front, it was composed of up to 110 people. It operated mostly in the Cundinamarca Department.
Alias Name NoteJavier Jota Front leader since February 2012. Killed in March 2012. Eduardo Robayo Wilson Correa Trujillo Front leader since May 2011. Killed in February 2012. Mono Jojoy Victor Rojas Suarez Front leader, killed in May 2011. "El Campesino" José Nerup Reyes Peña Killed in 2007. "Serrucho" Pedro León García Captured in 2003.
43rd Front It was composed of up to 300 people and operated mostly in the Meta Department.
Alias Name Note "John 40" Gener García Molina Believe to be wounded after police attack in September 2008 Efrén Luis Eduardo López Méndez
44th Front Also known as the Antonio Ricaurte Front, it was composed of up to 350 people. It operated mostly in the Meta Department.
Alias Name Note Miguel Luis Fernando Bustos Albeiro Córdoba Élmer Mata Caviedes Killed in 2005. "Ciro Pereza", "Ciro Cañón" Handed himself to the Army on October 28, 2010. Demaris Handed herself to the Army on October 28, 2010. Bricelda Handed herself to the Army on October 28, 2010. "Ricardo Pompis" Handed himself to the Army on October 28, 2010. Omar Handed himself to the Army on October 28, 2010. Angie Killed in combat on October 28, 2010.
45th Front Also known as the Atanasio Girardot Front, it was composed of up to 150 people. It operated mostly in the Boyacá and Norte de Santander Departments.
Alias Name Note Rafael Gutierrez Luis Eduardo Marín "Che" Jesús María Piedrahita Killed in 2005.
51st Front Also known as the Jaime Pardo Leal Front, it was composed of up to 80 people. It operated mostly in the Cundinamarca Department.