The head of the Colombian police, known for his provocative statements, said on Saturday that he, along with other police officers, resorted to exorcisms and prayers in the fight against crime and its most powerful representatives, such as Pablo Escobar, AFP and News.ro report.

From his office, filled with crucifixes, images of the Virgin Mary and other Catholic symbols, General Henry Sanabria said these religious practices have helped the police during more than 50 years of armed conflict.

He particularly recalled the operations during which the cocaine baron Pablo Escobar (1993), the FARC warlord nicknamed “Mono Jojoy” (2010) and the guerrilla leader Alfonso Cano (2011) were killed. “The existence of the devil is certain. I saw, I felt,” said Henry Sanabria in an interview with Semana magazine, crossing himself at every mention of the demon.

He claimed that the criminals used “sorcery” and recounted several incidents, including an officer who was allegedly “shot while praying” and thereby killed one of these alleged “sorcerers”.

His statements with biblical quotations ignited social networks in Colombia, a country with a Catholic tradition.

The current president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, reacted from the Dominican Republic, where he is participating in the Ibero-American summit. “We know the general’s beliefs, but we’re trying to make sure those beliefs don’t affect the rules. I think he respected them as far as we know,” he said.

Henry Sanabria has also taken a stand against abortions allowed in Colombia up to the 24th week of pregnancy and the use of condoms, an “abortiful method” in his words.

His other statements have sparked controversy: in October he called Halloween a “satanic” holiday and wrote a misogynistic tweet about Women’s Day on March 8. “A woman’s charm makes her husband happy and, if she is intelligent, makes him bear it. A restrained woman is a gift from God,” he said.