BOGOTA, April 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Colombia's right-wing presidential candidate Paloma Valencia said Monday that the country's government told her dissident FARC guerrillas had a plan to assassinate her.

"A narco-terrorist group has once again put a price on my head" of about $561,000, Valencia said, adding that the defense minister, national police director and other officials warned her.

There has been a surge in rebel violence in the run-up to the May 31 elections, with a bombing and other attacks in southwestern Colombia killing more than 20 people over the weekend.

Valencia is third in the polls, and considered the political heir to popular former president Alvaro Uribe, who led Colombia from 2002 to 2010.

The other two frontrunners say they're receiving death threats, too.

Valencia is a fierce critic of leftist leader Gustavo Petro, calling him weak on dealing with the country's armed groups.

"Colombia cannot continue with a government that has become an accomplice of narco-terrorism," Valencia said.