The main faction of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) laid down arms after signing a 2016 peace deal, but splinter groups that oppose the agreement still clash with security forces.

Wilmar Mejia, a senior official at the National Intelligence Directorate (DNI), was accused of leaking information that benefited a FARC dissident faction, according to reporting by Caracol TV in November that cited seized chats and documents.

The group that allegedly received the information is headed by a rebel leader known as Calarca, who is engaged in peace talks with Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s government.

Petro has defended Mejia, with the ensuing investigation also implicating an army general.

Mejia, who went from having a degree in physical education to heading Colombian intelligence, told broadcaster Canal 1 on Tuesday that he had submitted his resignation on March 3.

He earlier denied the accusations and said he does not know Calarca.

Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo said this week that investigators have confirmed “very serious facts” in relation to Caracol TV’s report.

“We have corroborated serious information from the computers and cellphones about links between the (armed) groups and a general and a person from the DNI,” she told the El Espectador newspaper, without mentioning Mejia by name.

Petro, who has five months left in office, has failed in most of his attempts to secure peace with armed groups, who experts say have grown stronger during the leftist president’s term.

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