Luis Diaz’s wife, Gera Ponce, recently took to Instagram to share an emotional birthday message for their two-year-old daughter, Roma. In the post, Ponce expressed her heartfelt wish for their daughter to have her grandfather, Luis Manuel, back by their side. This message comes amidst the ongoing search for Diaz’s father, who was abducted along with his wife in Barrancas, near the Venezuelan border. Diaz’s mother was rescued, but his father remаins in the custody of the ELN (National Liberation Army), a left-wing rebel group.

Ponce’s Instagram post garnered support and prayers from users, including some of Diaz’s Liverpool teammates, such as Darwin Nunez and goalkeeper Adrian. Many users posted praying hands emojis, symbolizing their hopes for the safe return of Diaz’s father. The head of the ELN, Antonio Garcia, acknowledged that holding Diaz’s father was a mistake and referred to the footballer as a symbol of Colombia.

Authorities are actively working to accelerate the search and release of Diaz’s father, with 150 uniformed military personnel deployed in the Barrancas area. Peace talks with the ELN, considered a terrorist group by the US government, are also ongoing. The situation remаins tense and dangerous, and Colombia’s President, Gustavo Petro, has expressed concern and criticized the ELN for not fulfilling their promise to release Diaz’s father. The wellbeing and safe return of Luis Manuel Diaz continue to be of utmost importance and concern for Diaz, his family, and the wider community.