Eastern Bloc of the FARC-EP

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.

This group of commanders was called the "EMBO" (Estado Mayor del Bloque Oriental). Alias Name Note El Médico Mauricio Jaramillo Wilson Valderrama Cano, Jaime Alberto Parra Commands Bloque Jorge Briceño Germán Briceño Suárez, "Grannobles" Noé Suárez Rojas Jorge Briceño Suárez, "Mono Jojoy" Víctor Julio Suárez Rojas Commander of FARC's military wing, killed by the Colombian army, on September 22, 2010, during the bombing of his camps. Carlos Antonio Lozada Injured by a Colombian army attack in August 2007. "Romaña" Henry Castellanos Garón "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.

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 César Gerardo Aguilar Ramírez Arrested in 2008 during Operation Jaque. Doris Adriana Luz Dary Conde Arrested in 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.

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.

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. "Jurga Jurga" Killed by Colombian security forces on July 29, 2008 "Camilo Tuerto" Captured by Colombian security forces on April 11, 2009. Also second in command for the Reinel Mendez Company. "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 "Fabian" Killed by Colombian security forces on October 8, 2010, he had replaced "Milton". "Katerine" María Johana Arias Jáuregui Killed by Colombian security forces on October 8, 2010 "Perico" One of the head front commander, captured on October 25.

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 Gentil Alvis Patiño, "El Chigüiro" Juan José Martínez Vega Captured in Venezuela in 2005. "Octavio Cocopi" Killed on January 1, 2011.

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.

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.

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.

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. Mono Jojoy Victor Rojas Suarez Front leader, killed in May 2011. Efrén Luis Eduardo López Méndez

Also known as the Juan de la Cruz Front, it was composed of up to 120 people. It operated mostly in the Cundinamarca and Boyacá Departments. Alias Name Note Flaminio Gómez Jesús Vargas Gamboa Killed in 2002. Silverio Salvador Vargas León Killed in 2003.

Also known as the Teófilo Forero Front, it was composed of around 150 militants, although the members of its urban network were much greater. It operated mostly in the Cundinamarca Department, and was considered the FARC's base in Bogotá. It was considered responsible for much of the terrorist activity that occurred in and around the capital. Alias Name Note Nelson Robles Julio Enrique Rincón Rico Rubén Armando Barbosa Tovar Patricia Demobilized in April 2010. Conejo Demobilized in April 2010. El Flaco Demobilized in April 2010. Chaño Demobilized in April 2010. Luz Dary Maryuri Sáenz Killed in April 2010. “Efren” or “Patequeso” Marco Elvis Patiño second in command, captured in July 2012.

It was composed by up to 80 people and operated mostly in the Casanare and Boyacá Departments. Alias Name Note Jerónimo Aljure Jorge Eliécer Jiménez Martínez Captured in 2004.

Also known as the Yarí Front. Operated in the Meta Department. On February 14, 2012, alias Dumar, his lover alias Gisella and two other rebels were killed by the army. Four other have been captured. Alias Name Note Victor Tirado Rigoberto Lozano First commander. Dumar Killed on February 14, 2012.

It was an urban network composed of up to 50 individuals, and operated in Bogotá. Alias Name Note Negro Antonio Bernardo Mosquera Machado Arrested in 2009. Chucho Jose Marvel Zamora Arrested in 2008. La Mona Luz Delia Hincapié Gaviria Arrested on October 20, 2010, while she was overseeing a car bomb preparation.