Peruvian Court issues arrest warrant for Palomino brothers, former Shining Path members

The Peruvian Judicial Power has issued an arrest warrant for Víctor Quispe Palomino, also known as “Comrade José,” and his brother Jorge Quispe Palomino.

They are former leaders of the Shining Path, a terrorist group, and were absent during their trial for terrorism charges.

The Second Collegiate Criminal Court of the National Court declared both brothers as “absent prisoners.”

Authorities confirmed Jorge Quispe Palomino’s death, as he was killed during a military operation.

Víctor Quispe Palomino, however, managed to escape.

In August 2022, a military operation resulted in the death of 10 to 15 members of the Shining Path, significantly impacting the group’s activities.

The Joint Command of the Armed Forces stated that this operation dealt a severe blow to terrorism in Peru.

Jorge Quispe Palomino, also known as “Comrade Raul,” died in January due to a chronic kidney condition aggravated by previous injuries sustained during a confrontation with the military and police.

In March, a military officer and a presumed subversive were killed during a clash between security forces and members of the terrorist group.

The Joint Command of the Armed Forces confirmed the death of Army non-commissioned officer Emanuel Guimaraes Chavez and a presumed terrorist identified as “Paulino.”

The Quispe Palomino brothers assumed leadership of the Shining Path in the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro River Valley (Vraem) after the capture of the organization’s founder, Abimael Guzman, in the 1990s.

However, Guzman did not acknowledge them as his successors, and they did not follow his orders.

Before Guzman’s capture, the Palomino brothers were involved in numerous criminal acts committed by the Shining Path as part of their violent campaign to establish a Maoist regime in Peru, inspired by China’s People’s War.

The Shining Path, identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as responsible for most of the 69,000 victims from 1980 to 2000 in Peru, has since dwindled in power and has become associated with drug trafficking activities.