Why was a Colombian army general traveling deep in rebel territory , out of uniform and without bodyguards ? That country 's largest guerrilla group Tuesday confirmed capturing Gen. Rubén Darío Alzate . The announcement came during a news conference in Havana , where guerrillas and Colombian government officials have been holding peace talks . Both Colombian government officials and rebel leaders said they did not know what Alzate was doing in a remote area of western Colombia when guerrillas captured him over the weekend . Colombian media reported he was the highest-ranking officer to be taken prisoner during the country 's blood , five-decades-old civil war . Alzate commands a 2,500-soldier counterinsurgency group and previously headed the army 's anti-kidnapping unit . Leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia , known as FARC , said they gained a valuable prize by taking Alzate prisoner . `` We are talking about a general who is one of the most important generals to their concept of counter-insurgency , '' the FARC leader known as Pablo Catatumbo said at the news conference Tuesday . On Monday , Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos suspended the peace talks and demanded that FARC release Alzate immediately . Santos also called on the country 's military to investigate why Alzate had apparently broken protocol by venturing into rebel territory . According to Colombian government officials , Alzate was traveling by a boat along a river in an area known to be a hub for drug smugglers and rebels when he , an Army lawyer and a corporal were captured . A second soldier traveling with the group managed to escape and told officials that Alzate and his companions had been in the area to inspect an energy project . But on Tuesday , FARC leaders said no such project exists in that area and that they were also baffled what Alzate 's presence there . FARC leaders would not say whether they would free Alzate so that the peace talks could continue . `` We are willing to find a prompt , calm and just solution to this problem , '' said Catatumbo . The U.S. government has provided Colombia 's military with billions of dollars in training and aid to battle FARC guerrillas , who authorities accuse of massive-scale drug trafficking to finance their insurgency . At the beginning of the peace talks in 2012 , FARC leaders said they had released all their prisoners and hostages as a sign of good faith . But President Santos has resisted their offers of a ceasefire , saying a previous armistice allowed rebels to seize large swathes of territory .
Gen. Rubén Darío Alzate was captured over the weekend . Colombia 's President has suspended peace talks with FARC rebels over the matter . Comment: