was "enthusiastic [and] willing to be useful", but also noted some resentment towards him for receiving the rank of brigadier general despite being a recent arrival, but justifying the selection as he had actual military merits as opposed to several Colombian generals which had been promoted as payment due to a lack of funding (a practice that Bolívar described as "stimulating enthusiasm and rewarding feats", despite recognizing that "most [of his generals] only had brutal bravery as a merit" in the Diario de Bucaramanga). The situation was exacerbated when he reached Bogotá and his rank was formally recognized. During his absence a smear campaign took place in the capital's media, in which a newspaper named El Noticiosito published a piece claiming that "the only service that he had made to Colombia was [being a ventriloquist, one of his hobbies] and publishing some paper [...] that was seen as scientific and eloquent", also implying that he had bought the rank from "some Congress party". Another newspaper titled El Constitucional rebuffed this piece, sardonically congratulated the publication on behalf of him for attacking while he was gone, before turning serious and chastising the editorial line "small and diminute ideas", calling the critics of the government out and challenging them to leave their anonymity and meet with their targets publicly. El Noticiosito published a reply titled Un viudo del Noticiosito al amigo del General Valero y del Señor Miralla, where it argued that he could possess "as much capacity and patriotism as Sieyes and Roger had at France, but that does not justify being placed ahead of the military race, being a foreigner, of other military-men that sealed [the independence] with their blood". Peruvian War of Independence Arriving at Peru, Valero de Bernabé joined forces with the 1st Division under colonel Monagas and 600 men sent by colonel Diego Ibarra. The former was unsatisfied with his new role and was granted a license, being replaced by Rafael Picazo. On October 20, 17 units formed a fleet that took his forces to sea, facing weather conditions that dispersed it. Valero de Bernabé managed to reach the island of Puná on November 14. A day later, he left towards Guayaquil. There he met governor Juan Paz del Castillo and received new directions, momentarily staying there and collaborating with the general while trying to prepare his ailing troops. Valero de Bernabé informed Bolívar of his arrival