Julio César Guerrero Batista, the father of José Carlos Guerrero García, one of the nine young recruits who tragically lost their lives on January 7th in an explosion at the Melones military unit in Holguín, holds the military leadership responsible for his son's death. A month after the devastating event, which claimed a total of 13 lives, Guerrero Batista took to Facebook to voice his anguish and blame. He accused "incompetent individuals in an office" of ordering the deaths of "nine children and four officers."
"I only wish that those incompetent leaders live long lives, so they can never find peace, day or night, haunted by the brutal murder of all those innocent lives filled with dreams and future plans," he lamented. "This is why this country fails to progress and sinks deeper into its own mire every day, due to incompetence," he emphasized.
In another post, he expressed his belief in divine justice, stating, "God is great and powerful, and justice will be served. One day, He will unleash His wrath upon the rulers who have caused so much pain to families, especially mine."
Previously, Guerrero Batista had claimed that soldiers who initially escaped from the tunnels—where weapons were stored—were ordered back inside despite the known dangers. He demands accountability for the individual who gave that life-threatening command, underscoring that "the truth always comes to light. They made it out of the tunnels alive, but were sent back, knowing what monstrous danger awaited them below. The person responsible for that order must be held accountable for those 13 lives," he insisted.
His accusations are supported by accounts from eyewitnesses. One young recruit who was present in the tunnels prior to the catastrophe recounted leaving the area due to a strong odor that made it hard to breathe. He was threatened with discharge if he didn't return inside, but chose to leave, which ultimately saved his life. Other accounts reveal that after initially leaving, the recruits were sent back into the tunnels, where the fatal explosion subsequently occurred.
Guerrero Batista also criticized the secrecy and misinformation surrounding the incident. He expressed his profound sorrow and anger over the lack of clear answers and the absence of a public investigation into the events. "I can't understand why, at that early hour on January 7th, military officers were already on site, yet they ordered the soldiers back into the tunnel. They were sent to their deaths," he wrote.
Questions About the Holguín Explosion and Military Accountability
What caused the explosion in Holguín?
The explosion occurred at a military unit in Holguín, where weapons were stored in tunnels. The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, with demands for a public investigation to clarify the circumstances.
Who is being held responsible for the tragedy?
Julio César Guerrero Batista blames high-ranking military officials for ordering recruits back into the tunnels despite the known dangers, holding them accountable for the loss of 13 lives.
Has there been any official investigation into the incident?
As of now, there has been no public investigation, leaving many questions unanswered and fueling criticism over the lack of transparency and accountability.