ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɜːpə wʌz ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd mˈeɪɚɹ ʌv bˈæɹɐŋkˌæbɚmˌɛdʒə baɪ ɐlfˈɑːnsoʊ ɡˈoʊmɛz ɡˈoʊmɛz ænd lˈeɪɾɚ bɪkˌeɪm sˈɛkɹətɹi ʌv ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən fɚðə sˈæntændɚ dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənt.
In 1970 Serpa was appointed Mayor of Barrancabermeja by Alfonso Gómez Gómez and later became Secretary of Education for the Santander Department.