Somoza family
After graduation from UAM, Patiño went to Nicaragua where he took part in the Sandinista Revolution, which overthrew the Somoza family dictatorship. This socialist revolution was influenced by Liberation Theology. He was then appointed Head of the Department of Economic Planning, National Institute of Agrarian Reform, Southern Region, Nicaragua (1980-1981), where he worked on land redistribution which was a major priority of the Nicaraguan government.