dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ʌv vɜːdʒˈɪlɪˌoʊ bˈɑːɹkoʊ, sˈɜːpə wʌz ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd mˈɪnɪstɚɹ ʌv ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ɪnwˌɪtʃ hiː kəlˈæbɚɹˌeɪɾᵻd ɪn sˈɛɾɪŋ ɐ dᵻmˌoʊbɪlᵻzˈeɪʃən tˈaɪmteɪbəl fɚðɪ ˌiːpˌiːˈɛl, ðə pˌiːˌɑːɹtˈiː ænd ðə kwˈɪntɪn lˈeɪm mˈuːvmənt.
During the government of Virgilio Barco, Serpa was appointed Minister of Government in which he collaborated in setting a demobilization timetable for the EPL, the PRT and the Quintín Lame Movement.