Despite the Colombian government’s plans to dismantle its intelligence agency DAS, there will be no massive layoffs among the 6500 employees, the agency’s director said Thursday.
DAS director Felipe Muñoz told Congress that the majority of employees will find work in other state security agencies.
3,000 of the current DAS officials will be transferred to Colombia’s Central Intelligence Agency, the successor of the DAS, 1,500 will be transferred to the Prosecutor General’s Office and 700 will be sent on an early retirement.
The director did not say how many of the current employees will be left unemployed after the massive reorganization of Colombia’s intelligence agency that’s been the center of numerous scandals involving involvement with paramilitary death squads and the illegal wiretapping of government opponents.
“We will see an organized process … to be able to give a second opportunity to the officials, because we owe them a lot,” Muños said.
The DAS is Colombia’s immigration service and intelligence agency. Three of its directors and dozens high-ranking officials are currently under criminal investigation. Colombia’s Congress is currently reviewing the government proposals for a new intelligence agency.
