British and take Puerto Rico along generals Briceño Méndez, Montilla and Padilla. Santander proposed the use of the Girardot battalion in the incursion, knowing Valero de Bernabé's willingness and expecting to easily convince him. However, before the plan came to fruition, Spain and Britain solved their differences diplomatically, with Bolívar opting to not to enter into a war without allies. José Valero would later state that his father never stopped thinking about Puerto Rico, and that he persistently held to the idea of its independence. Decline and death of Bolívar; Exile On June 3, 1828, general José La Mar declared war on Colombia and took over Ecuador intending to annex it to Peru. Valero de Bernabé was placed in charge of a division during the counteroffensive, but halted at Popayan, where news broke that La Mar had been defeated by general Flores. In 1829, Bolívar named Valero de Bernabé Commander of Arms of Puerto Cabello, facing an increasingly secessionist sentiment among Venezuelans. He was charged with dealing with armed revolutionaries at Guines and Pamanco. Valero de Bernabé succeeded in defeating and dissolving both groups. Bolívar, addressing him as a "dear friend of the heart", congratulated him for his success in these missions. After receiving support of the populace and the local government, he opted to stay two months and aid, at the request of general Páez. For this campaign, Valero de Bernabé was named Commander of Arms of Caracas. Following another uprising led by general Córdova, Bolívar abdicated his title of president of Colombia. In 1830, Páez led a campaign for secession, attacking Bolívar's opposition as the element preventing its completion. This led to demands of exile at the Congress of Valencia. Valero de Bernabé, serving as Minister of War and Navy, protested the treatment being given to Bolívar, being the sole dissident. After the exile demand passed, he rescinded his office and was in turn exiled himself for this stance, settling at St. Thomas. Six months later, Bolívar died at Santa Marta. Venezuelan Federal War Revolutionary Head of Aragua Valero de Bernabé remained at St. Thomas for a year. Recognizing his military career, the government granted a pension to his family. In 1831, interim Secretary of Interior Antonio Leocadio Gúzman approached him with the intention of having him denounce the exiled Venezuelans. In May, Valero de Bernabé was allowed back into Venezuela. There he revendouzed with Francisco Hernáiz, who