with Valero de Bernabé and travel to Cartagena and wait in anticipation the beginning of the Caribbean incursion along the Girardot regiment and the reinforcements. On July 9, 1826, Santander congratulated him for the state of the defenses at Portobello, expressing concern about Laborde and discussing the Páez uprising. The power struggle at Colombia turned several of the officers rebellious, being led by Páez and Santander in separate schemes, convinced Bolívar to leave Peru and reunited with Valero de Bernabé at Panama. One of few to remain loyal, he escorted the leader to Bogotá. In the process, Valero de Bernabé witnessed how the rebels had employed Bolívar's extended absence to turn the Colombian masses against him. The leader was frustrated by what he considered "ingratitude" and faced a similar situation at Venezuela, where he was stripped of all power and recognition. As the Panama Congress begun, Bolívar retreated towards the Quinta de Fusca. Valero de Bernabé passed the 1827 Easter celebration there, and was involved in the preparations to counter a coup d'erat planned at Zipaquisá. The Congress of Panama approved the resolution to pursue the independence of Puerto Rico and Cuba unanimously, with Bolívar arguing the organization of troops and war ships. However, these plans where used to pressure the end of the war and force Spain to recognize the new nations. Immersed in an internal struggle and receiving demands of the United States not to interfere with their interests at Cuba (and preferring Spanish over British control in the region) and Britain's opposition to intervention because of negotiations to leave the Caribbean alone if Spain recognized the emancipated nations (in turn expecting the United States or France to take over if Spain left the region), the incursion was aborted for the moment. The Ocaña Convention placed Bolívar and Santander in direct confrontation, with the latter having the majority. The situation failed to reach a consensus and the royalist faction withdrew from the event, effectively marking the dissolution of Gran Colombia into smaller nations. As Bolívar headed towards Bogotá, either to abdicate as president or take the role of dictator depending on the source, he survived an assassination attempt. This led to the execution of several dissidents and the exile of Santander. At Bogotá, Valero de Bernabé served as Subchief of Staff. On January 25, 1827, after Spain and England entered war, Bolívar began plotting to side with the