Colombia celebrated a somber Independence Day this July 20^th. President Ivan Duque held several virutal ceremonies as citizens stayed indoors due to lockdown measures aimed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. That wasn’t the only reason the occasion was somber. Colombia's armed forces have been reeling from a series of scandals that have cast a shadow over the military for years. 

The biggest uproar comes from a series of sexual abuse cases. This week, the head of the Colombian Army disclosed at a virtual news conference that 118 members of the Colombian military have been investigated since 2016 in cases of abuse against minors. Forty-five were fired, the general said, and 73 more face ongoing criminal investigations. The news broke after the rape of a 13-year-old indigenous girl by seven soldiers who have since been charged with the crime. Officials said there is 'zero tolerance' for sexual abuse by the Colombian National Army.

CGTN's Michelle Begue uncovers.