Juliana Guerrero Admits to Presenting Fake University Degrees in Petro Government
Juliana Guerrero, a former aide and close political ally of former Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has admitted that she presented false university degrees to qualify for positions in his government, bringing a dramatic new development to a scandal that has followed her for more than a year.
Guerrero acknowledged her responsibility Wednesday, Sept. 9, in a pretrial agreement with Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalia General de la Nacion). She admitted to committing procedural fraud and presenting false information in public documents, according to Colombian media reports.
The admission came as Guerrero was expected to face a formal accusation over the alleged irregularities involving academic degrees from the Fundacion Universitaria San Jose. Under the agreement, she could face a sentence of about 36 months, although the final decision remains with a judge.
How the Juliana Guerrero scandal began
The controversy erupted in 2025, when Guerrero was being considered for the position of Vice Minister of Youth in the former Ministry of Equality. The position required professional academic credentials, but questions quickly emerged about the qualifications listed in her resume.
Investigations found inconsistencies involving two degrees that Guerrero claimed to have obtained from the Fundacion Universitaria San Jose. Earlier reports indicated that she had not completed the academic requirements associated with the degrees and had not taken the Saber Pro examination, which is required before obtaining a professional degree in Colombia.
The controversy became even more complicated when records showed that Guerrero had previously listed a technical qualification from SENA, Colombia’s national vocational training institution, before later presenting information suggesting she had obtained a professional degree. The discrepancies ultimately triggered a criminal investigation.
Petro defended Guerrero
The case attracted particular attention because of Guerrero’s close relationship with Petro and her rapid rise within government circles.
Petro defended Guerrero publicly after questions emerged about her academic background. In May 2026, he argued that it had not been conclusively demonstrated that she had never studied at the Fundacion Universitaria San Jose and said that Guerrero and her family had faced threats.
Despite the controversy, Guerrero continued to hold influence within government circles. She had worked in the Presidency’s Secretariat of Transparency and later held positions in the Interior Ministry, where she became closely associated with then-Interior Minister Armando Benedetti.
Her attempted appointment as vice minister of Youth ultimately became impossible after the controversy over her qualifications intensified.
What Guerrero admitted
The latest development changes the legal status of the case. Rather than merely facing allegations, Guerrero has now acknowledged that she presented false academic documents. During Wednesday’s hearing, she expressed regret and accepted responsibility as part of the agreement reached with prosecutors.
The charges involved procedural fraud and ideological falsehood in a public document. Prosecutors argued that Guerrero used the information in official government systems, including SIGEP II, Colombia’s public-sector information and employment management system, and submitted documents to government authorities while seeking positions for which the qualifications were relevant.
Could the case be bigger than Guerrero?
The investigation has also raised questions about the institution that issued the disputed credentials. Colombian lawmakers and investigators have called for scrutiny of the Fundacion Universitaria San Jose after allegations that other people connected to the Petro administration may have obtained irregular degrees from the institution.
According to reports cited by El Pais, investigators have examined cases involving at least 24 government contractors who allegedly received irregular academic credentials from the same institution.
The controversy therefore goes beyond one former government aide. It has become a broader test of how Colombia verifies academic credentials for people entering public office.
For Guerrero, however, the immediate issue is now judicial. Her admission represents a major reversal from the earlier stage of the case, when she and another defendant did not accept the charges.
The scandal also leaves a politically sensitive legacy for the Petro administration: How a young political operator with limited professional experience rose rapidly through government ranks, became a potential vice minister, and remained influential despite increasingly serious questions about her academic credentials.