Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 5, 2019 Moderators Share Posted December 5, 2019 Quote New Attorney General must know when to say no - Cortizo Posted 04/12/2019 The person who will replace the Attorney General Kenia Porcell, must be more than a criminal prosecutor with character who knows when to say yes and when to say no says President Laurentino who will personally interview six prospects on the weekend and announce his decision on Tuesday, December 10. Cortizo is seeking "a person who has knowledge in criminal matters, in budget administration and supervision of his staff, mainly prosecutors. “The person must also have the ability to express before the media, oral skills and know-how to write. We are currently evaluating between five and six names We will pass them to a consulting company to do the entire evaluation and interview process. On Saturday and Sunday I must also be interviewing them, ”said the president, Cortizo said that the selection task has not been easy since the appointment has been the result of an unexpected resignation He reiterated that the Cabinet Council will also appoint a substitute attorney for the Office of the Attorney General and another for the Office of the Administration Attorney General. we are going to select a person of character, who has self-control, access, public, and private management, and knows when to say no and when to say yes,” said the president. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/new-attorney-general-must-know-when-to-say-no-cortizo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 11, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted December 11, 2019 Quote President names former prosecutor as Attorney General Eduardo Ulloa Posted 10/12/2019 President Laurentino Cortizo announced on Tuesday, December 10 that former criminal prosecutor Eduardo Rubén Ulloa will replace Attorney General Kenia Porcell, on January 1 and will hold office until 2024 when her term was due to expire Former organized crime prosecutor, Javier Caraballo will be the alternate Attorney General. Mónica Castillo , current General Secretary of the Office of Attorney General of the Administration will become the substitute for Rigoberto González in this institution. The designation of Ulloa comes after a selection process that according to President Cortizo was similar to that used for the appointment of the principal and alternate magistrates of the Supreme Court. The appointments must still be ratified by the National Assembly. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/president-names-former-prosecutor-as-attorney-general Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 12, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted December 12, 2019 Quote OPINION: Defeating the common enemy- crime Posted 11/12/2019 With the appointment of the new Attorney General, the responsibility of the executive branch in justice matters is not terminated. The Attorney General's Office requires a greater allocation of funds for the fulfillment of its missions. Likewise, the Ministry of Public Security and the National Police must facilitate human resources and effective coordination with the Public Ministry to defeat the common enemy of all Panamanians: crime. In turn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Financial Analysis Unit must align with the commitment of a Panama free of impunity and without corruption. The new officials have the obligation to honor the institutionality of the Public Prosecutor, respecting the officials who have bared the breast for the country. It is clear that breaking with the continuity of high-profile investigations would be to hand over the country to the corrupt and their satraps. The future of Panama is in the hands of public servants responsible for prosecuting crime and for doing justice. That effort is just beginning. LA PRENSA, Dec. 11 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-defeating-the-common-enemy-crime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 16, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted December 16, 2019 Quote Designated Attorney General urged to prevent impunity terminal illness Eduardo Ulloa Posted 15/12/2019 Eduardo Ulloa, Panama’ s new Attorney General will be faced with at least 78 high profile cases involving insiders close to the bone of previous administrations. He will be responsible for preventing impunity from taking root among Panamanians "as a terminal illness," says the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) . He has a special responsibility because in his sphere of action there are cases that have to do "with issues of great sensitivity for the State and the public interest." Ulloa , is called upon to complete, the “high-profile investigations to identify those responsible and, above all, prevent impunity”. The position of the Cciap voiced on Sunday December 15 one day before the National Assembly Credentials Committee meets to ratify the recent appointments made by the Executive Branch, among which Ulloa as the new attorney general stands out. On Tuesday, December 10, the Cabinet Council, in addition to approving the designation of Ulloa as a replacement for Kenia Porcell , endorsed the appointments of Javier Caraballo as alternate attorney and Monica Castillo as alternate Administration attorney. "With the appointment of a new attorney, the Executive Branch completes a cycle of designations that are expected to be transcendental in the field of the administration of justice in the country," said the Cciap members. They added that the way in which the designations of Ulloa and the three new magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice have been produced "sets a precedent that can hardly be ignored by following rulers." It confirms that when "there is political will and personal determination" it is possible to respond to the general interest. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/designated-attorney-general-urged-to-prevent-impunity-terminal-illness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 21, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted December 21, 2019 Quote OPINION: Legislative criminals at risk Posted 18/12/2019 As expected, the new Attorney General, his deputy and the deputy Attorney General of the Administration were ratified by the plenary session of the National Assembly. Some deputies, in a histrionic exercise, emphatically denounced the alleged abuses of the outgoing Procurator and the persecution by the Comptroller General of the Republic. They dared to request the dismissal of anti-corruption prosecutors by name. There were veiled warnings to the new head of the Public Prosecutor's Office so that he does not mess with the real “boss”, who controls a faction of the most questioned deputies. The Assembly maintains a great debt to justice since it has hindered the reforms of the Public Procurement Law, He filed a proposal to address conflicts of interest and has refused to hand over the contract documents and payrolls of the past period. The country must understand that the new Procurator cannot work miracles, much less if key State institutions limit their collaboration. The new official must practice ingratitude towards those who appointed and ratified him. As the nation’s chief prosecutor, citizens expect him to pursue all crimes and criminals equally. – LA PRENSA, Dec 18 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-legislative-criminals-at-risk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 31, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted December 31, 2019 Quote New Attorney General heralds swift action in major corruption cases Eduardo Ulloa Posted 30/12/2019 “Quick and urgent” judicial audits of large scale corruption cases like s Odebrech, FCC, and others will be one of the first acts of Panama’s new Attorney General Eduardo Ulloa when he takes office on January 2. Speed is essential because: “What we cannot do is stop for a long period and cause paralysis of the investigations. But to establish well the procedural movement in which the cases, that have pending hearings. receive the most effective and dynamic treatment possible, ”said the 56-year-old lawyer in an interview with La Prensa. He also said d that he would be willing to review the agreement agreed with Odebrecht because there could be information that the company did not provide. For example, from the periods of Martín Torrijos (2004-2009), when the construction company firt arrived in Panama, and Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019). “There are very specific things that we would have to check there, that we would have to review: the way they were given, everything is subject to investigation. We do not rule out any type of circumstance, person, or activity that can be extracted from the investigative work, ”he said in relation to the agreement between the Public Ministry and Odebrecht. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/new-attorney-general-heralds-swift-action-in-major-corruption-cases Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted June 11, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted June 11, 2020 Quote OPINION: Justice in the shade The questioned Martinellista prosecutor. Posted 10/06/2020 The Attorney General of the Nation, since his appointment, has led us to believe that his independence in the exercise of his functions is guaranteed. But he has been cheating on us. He has surrounded himself with people who have never disguised their affection for a former official, the target of multiple corruption investigations by the institution that the Attorney himself directs. So what message does send to the prosecutors? Does he think his appointments make him look more independent? Just as he assures us that his position must be carried out with absolute independence, in the same way, we remind him that he is not. His explanations about the appointment of his assistant - an outspoken supporter of the aforementioned character - is to slap us, is to disrespect the trust placed in him. He tells us that over justice prevail interests that he protects in the shade – LA PRENSA, June 10 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-justice-in-the-shade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 25, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted February 25, 2021 Quote Attorney General resigns ‘ungrateful and misunderstood job’ Posted 24/02/2021 Attorney General Eduardo Ulloa, has submitted his resignation to President Laurentino Cortizo describing public service as an ungrateful and misunderstood job. Ulloa's departure from the Public Ministry comes in the midst of investigations into alleged abuse and mistreatment within the shelters supervised by the National Secretariat for Children,Adolescents and the Family (Senniaf). In a video posted on YouTube, Ulloa read the content of the letter he sent to the President He mentioned that, as part of the responsibilities in the position, he had to sacrifice time with his family, who " had to accept that his integrity and capacity were debated daily in the media in an open way. He said that the family life that they led for years was upset, and their emotional peace and tranquility was altered. He stated that they had to deal with a society in permanent confrontation where interested criticism and media judgment leave behind the serene analysis and the work that is done " which makes public service an ungrateful and misunderstood job ." He highlighted that he had to work with a system incapable of solving situations as critical as the wellbeing of children, leading to institutional responsibility for the events that have shocked the country. Ulloa's resignation will be effective on March 1, 2021. “ I hope that [his resignation] will contribute to the reflection of all Panamanians, with a view to working towards a better country and to achieve the objectives that as a nation, we all seek ”. Ulloa took office on December 10, 2019 after the resignation of Kenia Porcell. Under Ulloa's leadership, there were also important high-profile cases related to acts of corruption in the administration of former President Ricardo Martinelli. One of the most emblematic and that should go to trial is the Odebrecht case. The second hearing in the case of illegal wiretapping which has a start date of June 22, is another process that must be attended. Blue Apple, New Business cases and investigations into irregularities in purchases in the midst of the pandemic are other processes that were in the hands of the Public Ministry that Ulloa is leaving behind. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/attorney-general-resigns-ungrateful-and-misunderstood-job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 26, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted February 26, 2021 Quote Seeking the true reason for the AG's exit? The Attorney General leaves with many questions unanwered Posted 25/02/2021 Nothing prevents the current Attorney General from resigning from office. That is his right. But that does not mean that h can leave without justifying the real reasons for his resignation or that he can omit to give explanations about the status of the high-profile investigations that he inherited and those that should be ongoing under his management. This is called transparency, and although his predecessor was criticized it is no less true that with her there was greater transparency in terms of the work that the Public Ministry developed to prosecute the crime. Mr. Ulloa owes us many explanations and must give them before leaving office. In his resignation letter, Ulloa introduced gibberish about the scandal at the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents, and the Family. But, Despite the deliberate ambiguity about the reasons for his resignation in the latter case, the truth is that these do not constitute logical or sensible reasons for resigning. Even in what appears to be one of his last public appearances, this official lacks the courage to tell us the truth, however stark. His departure from the institution is as dark as his entire laconic and lackluster administration – LA PRENSA, Feb. 25 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/seeking-the-true-reason-for-the-ag039s-exit-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 26, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted February 26, 2021 Quote Resignation signals institutional crisis The Supreme Court Posted 25/02/2021 The sudden resignration of Attorney Genera Eduardo Ulloa has generated a wave of reactions pointing to an institutional failure. "The highest official of the Public Ministry must be able to tolerate freedom of expression and of the press, which is part of the nature of the position said the Panama chapter of Transparency International. Another point that the foundation stressed is that if Ulloa received external pressure, be it media, political, economic or criminal, he was obliged by law and personal integrity to inform the country and denounce them. The members of the chapter recalled that the Attorney General must serve the citizenry, not power. "An attorney who makes his management transparent and makes an alliance with the citizenry is an attorney who will have the strength and protection of the people he serves," said a statement published Thursday. There is an institutional fragility already at the level of crisis and the “great gap that is opening in Panamanian democracy due to the lack of respect for the institutions said former Attorney General and law professor Ana Matilde Gomez “The institutions are not fulfilling the function for which they are designed in a Constitution that is already obsolete for social demands," she said. The problem, according to the former attorney, is that the balance of the design does not work, because the Court, which is the one that can remove the attorney, investigates the political power and the political power investigates the Court. “That is a terrible failure of the system and it opens a huge gap to democracy. Gómez said that it is not known for sure what it is that has led Ulloa to resign In theory, nothing should happen to interrupt the course of high profile investigations but now the risk is that "they will put a person who lends himself so that nothing happens." Juan Carlos Araúz, president of the National Bar Association said: “Today we are immersed in a collapsed system, that justice administration system was trapped in the 1980s, where the functioning of the State paid tribute to another form of society. “No matter the face of the person who is going to sit, he sits in the middle of a collapsed system. We have not had the courage to recognize that the administration of justice is failed,m and that it is failed due to the neglect of long decades, its own institutionality has been deteriorating.” https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/resignation-signals-institutional-crisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 27, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted February 27, 2021 Quote OPINION - Cowardly exit, muddied reputation Posted 26/02/2021 The circumstances in which the current attorney general of the Nation leaves office have generated suspicions. Nobody expected his resignation, when high-profile cases, such as Odebrecht, New Business, FCC, etc., are about to come to the courts of justice. His resignation is inexplicable. While he did very little for these cases, he should at least have the dignity of trying to get out the front door and not the back door, as he is doing. That is cowardly. The way he leaves office muddies not just what remains of his name, but his reputation and career. He still has time to explain the real reasons for his resignation and inform us of the status of all these cases, as something must have happened to them during his tenure. In the meantime, this attorney has been a complete disappointment and this is the direct responsibility of the President of the Republic and his ministers. We expect good sense and more common sense in the next appointment. – LA PRENSA, Feb. 26 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-cowardly-exit-muddied-reputation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 27, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted February 27, 2021 Quote Did he fall or was he pushed? Posted 26/02/2021 In the letter of resignation from the Attorney General's Office, posted on YouTube, Eduardo Ulloa suggests that he is leaving office because the justice system is "incapable" of providing solutions for the well-being of children reports La Prensa. The rumor mills are in full throttle and, jurists consulted by La Prensa suggest that the issue goes beyond the scandal resulting from the abuses detected in shelters run by the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and the Family (Senniaf). Neither are they convinced by the argument of "media trials" and family sacrifice. For example, the former Accounts Prosecutor Guido Rodríguez says that Ulloa "knew perfectly the bronco he was riding", and warns that his "untimely" resignation could be related to something "more serious and delicate." For Rodríguez, Ulloa (prosecutor until March 1) has a “civic and patriotic” duty to tell the truth: who pressured him and what led him to make such an abrupt decision. Ex-presidents Ulloa leaves the post with several pending issues: the prosecution of the Odebrecht case, considered the most emblematic corruption process of the democratic era, an investigation in which 100 people are charged, including former presidents Ricardo Martinelli and Juan Carlos Varela, and the New Business case, which follows the purchase of the Panama América publishing group with alleged public funds, a process in which Martinelli is also mentioned. Among the range of high-profile cases that are in the prosecutor's offices is also the bribery plot of the FCC company. In the Public Ministry (MP) they reported that in December they received judicial assistance from Switzerland, which contains revealing information for the investigation and that it even has ramifications with the Odebrecht case. It mentions Martineli and his sons and some family companies. "The arguments raised by Ulloa allow us to interpret that he could not fulfill the obligations of the position and that is serious," says former Attorney General Ana Matilde Gómez. “What we don't know is from whom” these pressures come, she says. A tweet by Sidney Sittón, Martinelli's lawyer read: “When talking with Ulloa, and learning about his intentions to resign, I felt a man overwhelmed and powerless in the face of interference from politicians of government in the correct performance of his functions. He is a correct person and always my friend ” . Former Supreme Court Judge Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño, now a commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, state that the attorney's resignation "has an important impact on justice." Remember that the strength of democratic life and the rule of law are based on an institutional framework based on the rules, the Constitution, the laws, transparency, independence, autonomy, accountability and impartiality and excellence to ensure equality and non-discrimination in access to justice. The Foundation for the Development of Citizen Freedom, the Panama chapter of Transparency International. warns that " the attorney general must serve the citizenry, not power," and Ulloa's resignation "leaves more questions than answers." “The highest official of the Public Ministry must be able to tolerate freedom of expression and of the press, which is part of the nature of the position. If you received external pressures, be they media, political, economic or criminal, you are obliged by law and personal integrity to inform the country and denounce them Nine attorneys in 31 years, instead of the three who had to serve their 10-year terms, are facts that show the crisis and fragility of a justice system, which society already considers as failed” says the group. In addition, remember that citizens are once again facing the danger of the social cancer of impunity in cases such as Odebrecht, wiretaps, Blue Apple, FCC, and the more than 30 cases of corruption involving previous administrations. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/did-he-fall-or-was-he-pushed-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 28, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted February 28, 2021 Quote The friendships of a "Guardian of Justice" Posted 27/02/2021 Eduardo Ulloa was a friend of his friends, among them, people linked to those prosecuted by his prosecutors in the Pu blic Ministry for high-profile cases. Being an ordinary lawyer, before becoming Attorney General, he questioned his predecessor for the same reasons for which he has been the target of disapproval. He blindly executed every suggestion made to him by his today — and those of before — confessed friends. The irony is that he ended up being the victim of his own criticism. What is the legacy of his brief tour of the Public Ministry? When President Laurentino Cortizo announced that he would be the next Procurator - in December 2019, and with the presence of his entire Cabinet - he said that he hoped that the new Procurator would be the "guardian of justice", and that he had everything to "leave a legacy to the country, to his children, to his family ”. But Ulloa resigned because " family time was reduced and our emotional peace and tranquility was affected." Fortunately, it did not occur to him to be a journalist, because that is our day to day. Even so, he accepted - with a splendid smile - a controversial position, subjected to the ups and downs of politics, pressure of all kinds and the animosity of many. He ignored that it required high doses of courage, as well as moral and emotional strength. Ulloa was and is unable to call things by name: corruption, crime, punishment. I've never heard him accuse anyone, not even by their nicknames. He always resorted to absurd neutrality when his job was the opposite: to prosecute crime, point out those investigated, support his people. He preferred his beloved peace of mind and emotional tranquility, while the country expected determination and courage from him. The country won nothing with Ulloa at the head of the Public Ministry, although, without a doubt, his friends have lost a great henchman. It took him 13 months to realize that he lacked the basics to fill the position. And if it weren't for the fact that he practically fled through the kitchen door, perhaps this would have been his greatest act of bravery: admitting that he couldn't handle the charge out of sheer cowardice. But I also believe that, deep down, their reasons are just excuses for leaving office. There must be far more gruesome reasons for leaving, but we will never hear them from his mouth. What we must bear in mind now is that if a Yesman like Ulloa preferred to leave - whatever the reason or whatever - whoever replaces him will have to agree, as a sine qua non requirement to occupy the position, to which Ulloa feared to give him the Yes. In other words, we don't expect anything better than our friend the one who ran away. Can there be someone worse? Judging by the former attorney's friends, the judges and rulings department is managed from the Palace, where a smiling young man surely already has orders to prepare a list of candidates for the President. Let's not be surprised if Darth Vader or Ja-Nio, the experienced hunter hunted, appears in this one. Spicy Saturday, Rolando Rodriguez La Prensa, Feb. 27 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/the-friendships-of-a-guardian-of-justice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted March 1, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted March 1, 2021 Quote A path to anarchy and violence warns business group Posted 28/02/2021 A country without efficient justice assumes the dangerous possibility of entering the path of anarchy and violence says the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (Apede). “As proof of this, we find situations such as those that have arisen recently, in which the precarious situation of the population in a vulnerable condition worsens who, instead of being cared are repeatedly re-victimized...All this as a consequence of a system that allows impunity, "said Apede, in a Sunday statement. “The untimely resignation of the Attorney General generates great uncertainty since the reason for it is not clearly defined, which denotes an unacceptable institutional fragility, also generating unnecessary speculation and mistrust. at this crucial moment in national history.” The Apede made an urgent call to resume the debate on the methods of selection of the magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Attorney General, and other authorities of the control institutions. "And those changes can only come with" profound constitutional changes." https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/a-path-to-anarchy-and-violence-warns-business-group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted March 2, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted March 2, 2021 Quote Eduardo Ulloa dejó más dudas que respuestas El exprocurador se fue del Ministerio Público con una gran deuda: no dio detalles de su gestión, ni informe sobre el avance de investigaciones cruciales para el país. Aminta Bustamante Eliana Morales Gil 01 mar 2021 - 12:03 AM Muchas preguntas y muy pocas respuestas. Este podría ser un balance del paso de Eduardo Ulloa por la Procuraduría General de la Nación, cargo al que llegó el 2 de enero de 2020, cuando el presidente Laurentino Cortizo lo designó en reemplazo de Kenia Porcell. Su intempestiva renuncia al puesto, que se hace efectiva a partir de hoy lunes 1 de marzo, sumerge a la administración de justicia en otro episodio de incertidumbre. Ulloa se fue del puesto sin rendir cuentas de su gestión e informar a la Nación sobre los avances de decenas de procesos en los que se investiga corrupción, tráfico de influencias, blanqueo de capitales, y la vulneración de derechos a la infancia en albergues bajo la tutela de la Secretaria Nacional de la Niñez, Adolescencia, y Familia. Precisamente ayer, la Cámara de Comercio, Industria, y Agricultura de Panamá, en su segmento la Cámara Opina, planteó que “nos encontramos frente a una vacante en la Procuraduría General de la Nación, que ha dejado más preguntas que respuestas claras y verdaderas”. El gremio que preside Jean-Pierre Leignadier, aseguró que el país necesita “cuanto antes” un marco que permita fortalecer un verdadero Estado de Derecho, premisa que se caracteriza por la separación de poderes, la certeza del castigo y un sistema de justicia equitativo. Con este planteamiento coinciden ciudadanos y otras organizaciones de la sociedad. En consecuencia con el momento que vive la justicia, La Prensa elaboró un cuestionario con 27 interrogantes que el exprocurador no respondió al país. Algunas de esas preguntas son: ¿estaba preparado para ocupar el puesto? ¿Renunció o lo renunciaron? ¿Perdió el respaldo del presidente Cortizo? ¿Ha sido extorsionado por alguna persona? ¿Por qué no hemos visto los resultados de las investigaciones relacionadas con los abusos en los albergues? ¿Cuál ha sido su papel para afianzar los expedientes Odebrecht o New Business? Mientras tanto, se desconoce qué método usará el poder Ejecutivo para escoger a un nuevo procurador general de la nación. Por lo pronto, el fiscal Javier Caraballo, el procurador suplente, tomará las riendas del Ministerio Público. Eduardo Ulloa. Lo que Ulloa no explicó al país 1)¿Cómo llegó usted al cargo de Procurador? ¿Quién sugirió su nombre al presidente de la República? En retrospectiva, ¿cree usted que estaba preparado para ocupar el cargo? 2)Usted dice que el servicio público es “una labor ingrata e incomprendida”. Antes estuvo 17 años en el Ministerio Público. Si ya sabía eso, ¿por qué aceptó el cargo de Procurador?, ¿por qué aceptó un puesto de tanta jerarquía que al cabo de un año renunciaría?, ¿qué salió mal?, ¿fue realmente una renuncia o lo “renunciaron”? 3)¿Perdió el respaldo del presidente Laurentino Cortizo?, ¿por qué? 4)¿Por qué presentó su renuncia prácticamente con efecto inmediato? Su antecesora avisó que ponía el cargo a disposición con un mes y medio de anticipación. Está consciente del daño que le hace a la institucionalidad del país su renuncia apenas después de 14 meses de gestión, sin explicaciones creíbles y sin la debida transición a su reemplazo? 5) Su renuncia ha sido intempestiva y han surgido numerosos rumores de las causas que lo motivaron a hacerlo. ¿Por qué no ha aclarado estos rumores? ¿Ha sido usted extorsionado por alguna persona? 6) Está consciente de que su gestión es percibida como un periodo fallido en el Ministerio Público, complaciente con los intereses de grupos particulares. ¿Por qué no hizo nada para cambiar esta percepción general, pese a haber asumido un compromiso con la justicia? 7) ¿Considera que el país se debe conformar con su carta de renuncia? 8) ¿Por qué se fue del Ministerio Público sin divulgar un informe de gestión? 9) En su renuncia, usted señala que debió trabajar “con un sistema incapaz de dar solución a situaciones tan críticas como el bienestar de nuestra niñez”. Usted es de los funcionarios que gozan del privilegio de poder presentar iniciativas legislativas. ¿Por qué, en vez de quejarse, no hizo algo para solucionar este problema? 10) En el caso de los abusos en los albergues de protección, el Ministerio Público inició una investigación en agosto de 2020. ¿Por qué no hemos visto los resultados de esas investigaciones?, ¿se ha imputado a alguna persona?, ¿se le ha tomado indagatoria a alguien?, ¿se han impuesto medidas cautelares? 11) Si no se conoce los investigados en este caso, podría haber muchísimos niños, niñas y adolescentes en peligro. ¿No le parecía importante dar a conocer a la población detalles de esta investigación? 12) ¿Por qué nunca respondió los cuestionamientos de este medio sobre el nombramiento de su asistente, Rafael Carvajal, con salario de fiscal superior, simpatizante y abierto militante del que fuera el partido de Ricardo Martinelli? 13) El equipo de abogados de Martinelli solo ha tenido elogios para usted. ¿Cómo se pueden justificar estos elogios, cuando es usted, como jefe del Ministerio Público, a quien le corresponde perseguir los delitos de los que está acusado?, ¿no cree que tantos elogios de acusados levantan sospechas sobre su rol de acusador? 14) Algunas fuentes dijeron a este medio que usted sostenía reuniones, incluso en su despacho, con allegados de un acusado en múltiples casos: el expresidente Ricardo Martinelli. ¿Con quiénes se reunía?, ¿qué hablaba con ellos?, ¿por qué se reunía con ellos? 15) Usted informó, hace más de un año, que envió a los fiscales la carta en la que el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos informó que Panamá no necesita aval para procesar a Ricardo Martinelli, porque ya no aplica el principio de especialidad del tratado de extradición. ¿Qué procesos se le siguen a Martinelli en atención a dicha carta? 16) ¿Por qué el MP no ha pedido medidas cautelares en el caso de los pinchazos en vista de la decisión de un tribunal de realizar nuevamente el juicio? 17) ¿Cuál ha sido su papel para afianzar los expedientes de los casos Odebrecht o New Business? 18) ¿Por qué se ha retrasado la emisión de la vista fiscal del caso Odebrecht? 19) ¿Cuál es el estado de estos casos? ¿Por qué nunca ha rendido cuentas sobre estos y muchos otros casos? 20) ¿El traslado de Zuleyka Moore de la Fiscalía Anticorrupción obedeció a intereses particulares?, ¿lo volvería a hacer?, ¿por qué? 21) ¿Cuál es el resultado de la investigación sobre quien grabó los “Varelaleaks”? 22) ¿Se están investigando altos mandos de la Policía Nacional por la fuga de Ventura Ceballos y la masacre de La Joyita? 23) ¿Qué instrucción dio a los fiscales en la operación Furia? 24) Por su jerarquía, a usted le correspondía iniciar investigaciones contra altos funcionarios del actual gobierno por compras con supuestos sobreprecios. ¿En qué casos procedió a hacerlo y cuál es el estatus de esas investigaciones? 25) ¿La Asamblea Nacional es un aliado o un obstáculo en la persecución del delito? 26) ¿Por qué es tan difícil encontrar un Procurador que cumpla con el mandato de 10 años? 27) El equipo de trabajo conjunto que se conformó en julio pasado con Estados Unidos está enfocado en la investigación de blanqueo de capitales y los actos de corrupción. ¿Participó usted en las negociaciones o solo lo invitaron a firmar? Javier Caraballo, el procurador suplente, asume las riendas del Ministerio Público desde hoy.Archivo Hoy asume Javier Caraballo como procurador encargado Javier Caraballo, un fiscal experto en drogas con 23 años en el Ministerio Público, tomará las riendas de la Procuraduría de la Nación de manera provisional a partir de hoy. La intempestiva renuncia de Eduardo Ulloa al puesto más importante para administrar justicia pone a Caraballo en el cargo hasta tanto el presidente Laurentino Cortizo y su Gabinete escojan al titular. Sin embargo, hasta ahora no se tienen detalles sobre cómo será el proceso. Solo se sabe lo que dio a conocer Cortizo el pasado viernes 26 de febrero en su cuenta de Twitter: que lo haría conforme al numeral 2 del artículo 200 de la Constitución. Esa norma dice que son funciones del Consejo de Gabinete el acordar con el Presidente de la República los nombramientos de los magistrados de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, del Procurador General de la Nación, del Procurador de la Administración, y de sus respectivos suplentes, con sujeción a la aprobación de la Asamblea Nacional. Sin embargo, ¿qué criterios usarán para elegir a esa figura? Hasta ahora, nada de eso se sabe. Este medio consultó ayer nuevamente a la Dirección de Comunicación del Estado, sobre el asunto, sin embargo, al igual que el pasado viernes, no dieron detalles. Solo adelantaron que mañana martes hay Consejo de Gabinete, pero no informaron sobre si en esa reunión se analizará el reemplazo de Ulloa, quien fue nombrado a través de un inédito proceso: una consultora estudió el perfil de cinco candidatos y luego estos fueron entrevistados por el Presidente de la República. En aquella ocasión nunca se reveló el nombre de los otros cuatro aspirantes. Consulta ciudadana Mientras tanto, sectores de la sociedad civil, como la Alianza Ciudadana Pro Justicia abogan porque se tengan en cuenta los lineamientos del pacto de estado de justicia para nombrar al reemplazo de Ulloa. Este proceso implica la creación de una comisión especial de preselección como organismo consultivo y asesor del Consejo de Gabinete. Esta, de acuerdo con los lineamientos de la Comisión de Estado por la Justicia, debe instalarse una vez surja la vacante. Ese grupo debe tener los siguientes integrantes: un representante de los decanos de las facultades de derecho de las distintas universidades acreditadas con más de 15 años de servicio al país; un representante del Colegio Nacional de Abogados; un representante de Alianza Ciudadana Pro Justicia; un representante del Órgano Judicial o del Ministerio Público. Igualmente participará el Comité Ecuménico de Panamá. Luego se hará una convocatoria pública dirigida a todos los aspirantes, posteriormente habrá una etapa de evaluación “fundamentada en criterios objetivos” que culmina con el envío de la lista de candidatos al Consejo de Gabinete. La lista debe tener máximo 15 candidatos y mínimo 10. Entonces el Gabinete, liderado por Cortizo, debe escoger a la figura apta para el puesto. Hasta ahora, este mecanismo no ha sido utilizado por ningún presidente de la República. La crisis Mientras Cortizo y el Gabinete se ponen de acuerdo sobre el método para escoger al reemplazo de Ulloa, el sistema de justicia del país se sumerge en el callejón de la incertidumbre: casos de corrupción quedan en el vilo, fiscales y funcionarios del Ministerio Público ven amenazada su estabilidad, y la percepción de que existe inseguridad pública se instala en la agenda pública. Ayer la Cámara de Comercio, Industria, y Agricultura de Panamá, gremio que preside Jean-Pierre Leignadier, emitió un comunicado titulado: “La justicia no tiene espacio para más desatinos”. Allí el gremio expone un diagnóstico de la situación actual, y exige consecuencias reales frente a los abusos detectados en los albergues que están bajo la tutela de la Secretaría Nacional de Niñez, Adolescencia y Familia. En el documento, la Cámara de Comercio también advierte que la sociedad sigue esperando los cambios que ha reclamado por largo tiempo en torno a la administración de justicia. “Hoy nos encontramos, nuevamente, frente al reto de una vacante en la Procuraduría General de la Nación, que ha dejado más preguntas que respuestas claras. Llama la atención que luego de haber hecho carrera dentro del Ministerio Público, el Procurador General sustente su renuncia en un supuesto desconocimiento del escrutinio público del cargo y de la profundidad de las debilidades y necesidades del sistema para el cual se había comprometido a trabajar”, manifiesta el gremio. Moderator comment: The above news article was the lead front-page news article of La Prensa on Monday, March 1st, 2021. Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article. Quote Eduardo Ulloa left more questions than answers The former prosecutor left the Public Ministry with a great debt: he did not give details of his management, nor did he give a report on the progress of crucial investigations for the country. Aminta Bustamante Eliana Morales Gil 01 Mar 2021 - 12:03 AM <<jpg>> Many questions and very few answers. This could be a balance of Eduardo Ulloa's passage through the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, a position he arrived at on January 2, 2020, when President Laurentino Cortizo appointed him to replace Kenia Porcell. His untimely resignation from the post, which becomes effective as of today, Monday, March 1, plunges the administration of justice into another episode of uncertainty. Ulloa left the post without being held accountable for his management and informed the Nation about the progress of dozens of processes in which corruption, influence peddling, money laundering, and the violation of children's rights in shelters under the guardianship of the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents, and Family. Just yesterday, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Panama, in its Opina Chamber segment, stated that "we are facing a vacancy in the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, which has left more questions than clear and true answers" . The union chaired by Jean-Pierre Leignadier, assured that the country needs “as soon as possible” a framework that allows the strengthening of a true rule of law, a premise characterized by the separation of powers, the certainty of punishment and an equitable justice system. Citizens and other organizations in society agree with this approach. As a result of the moment that justice is living, La Prensa prepared a questionnaire with 27 questions that the former prosecutor did not respond to the country. Some of those questions are: was he prepared to fill the position? Did he quit or was he quit? Did you lose the support of President Cortizo? Has he been extorted by someone? Why haven't we seen the results of the investigations related to the abuse in the shelters? What has been his role in strengthening the Odebrecht or New Business files? Meanwhile, it is unknown what method the executive branch will use to choose a new attorney general for the nation. For now, the prosecutor Javier Caraballo, the alternate attorney, will take the reins of the Public Ministry. <<jpg>> Eduardo Ulloa. What Ulloa did not explain to the country 1) How did you get to the position of Attorney? Who suggested his name to the President of the Republic? In hindsight, do you think you were ready for the job? 2) You say that public service is "a thankless and misunderstood job." Before that, he spent 17 years in the Public Ministry. If you already knew that, why did you accept the position of Procurator? Why did you accept a position of such hierarchy that after a year you would resign? What went wrong? Was it really a resignation or was it “resigned”? 3) Did you lose the support of President Laurentino Cortizo? Why? 4) Why did you submit your resignation with virtually immediate effect? His predecessor advised that she was making the position available a month and a half in advance. Is he aware of the damage that his resignation does to the country's institutions after just 14 months in office, without credible explanations and without due transition to his replacement? 5) His resignation has been untimely and numerous rumors have arisen of the causes that motivated him to do so. Why haven't you cleared up these rumors? Have you been extorted by someone? 6) He is aware that his management is perceived as a failed period in the Public Ministry, complacent with the interests of particular groups. Why did you do nothing to change this general perception, despite having made a commitment to justice? 7) Do you think the country should comply with your letter of resignation? 8) Why did you leave the Public Ministry without disclosing a management report? 9) In your resignation, you point out that you had to work "with a system incapable of solving situations as critical as the well-being of our childhood." You are one of the officials who enjoy the privilege of being able to present legislative initiatives. Why, instead of complaining, did you not do something to solve this problem? 10) In the case of abuses in protection shelters, the Public Ministry initiated an investigation in August 2020. Why have we not seen the results of these investigations? Has anyone been charged? Has someone investigated? Have precautionary measures been imposed? 11) If those investigated in this case are not known, there could be many children and adolescents in danger. Didn't it seem important to make the details of this research known to the population? 12) Why did you never answer the questions of this medium about the appointment of your assistant, Rafael Carvajal, with the salary of a superior prosecutor, sympathizer and open militant of the former Ricardo Martinelli party? 13) The Martinelli team of attorneys has only had praise for you. How can you justify these compliments, when it is you, as the head of the Public Ministry, who is responsible for prosecuting the crimes of which you are accused? Don't you think that so many compliments from the accused raise suspicions about your role as accuser? 14) Some sources told this medium that you held meetings, even in your office, with relatives of an accused in multiple cases: former President Ricardo Martinelli. With whom did he meet? What did he talk to them? Why did he meet with them? 15) You reported, more than a year ago, that you sent the prosecutors the letter in which the United States Department of State reported that Panama does not need an endorsement to prosecute Ricardo Martinelli, because the principle of specialty of the treaty no longer applies. extradition. What processes are followed by Martinelli in response to this letter? 16) Why has the MP not requested precautionary measures in the case of punctures in view of the decision of a court to re-conduct the trial? 17) What has been your role in strengthening the files of the Odebrecht or New Business cases? 18) Why has the issuance of the tax hearing in the Odebrecht case been delayed? 19) What is the status of these cases? Why have you never been held accountable for these and many other cases? 20) Was the transfer of Zuleyka Moore from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office obeyed to particular interests? Would she do it again? Why? 21) What is the result of the investigation on who recorded the “Varelaleaks”? 22) Are senior commanders of the National Police being investigated for the escape of Ventura Ceballos and the La Joyita massacre? 23) What instruction did you give the prosecutors in Operation Fury? 24) Due to your hierarchy, it was your responsibility to initiate investigations against senior officials of the current government for purchases with alleged overpricing. In which cases did it proceed and what is the status of these investigations? 25) Is the National Assembly an ally or an obstacle in the prosecution of crime? 26) Why is it so difficult to find a Procurator who fulfills the 10-year term? 27) The joint task force that was formed last July with the United States is focused on the investigation of money laundering and acts of corruption. Did you participate in the negotiations or were you just invited to sign? <<jpg>> Javier Caraballo, the alternate attorney, assumes the reins of the Public Ministry from today. Today Javier Caraballo takes over as attorney in charge Javier Caraballo, a 23-year-old drug attorney with the Public Ministry, will take the reins of the Attorney General's Office on a provisional basis as of today. The untimely resignation of Eduardo Ulloa to the most important position to administer justice puts Caraballo in office until President Laurentino Cortizo and his Cabinet choose the incumbent. However, so far there are no details about how the process will be. We only know what Cortizo announced on Friday, February 26, on his Twitter account: that he would do so in accordance with number 2 of article 200 of the Constitution. This rule states that the functions of the Cabinet Council are to agree with the President of the Republic the appointments of the magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Procurator General of the Nation, the Procurator of the Administration, and their respective alternates, with subject to the approval of the National Assembly. However, what criteria will they use to choose that figure? Until now, none of that is known. This media yesterday again consulted the State Communication Directorate on the matter, however, like last Friday, they did not give details. They only announced that tomorrow, Tuesday, there is a Cabinet Council, but they did not report on whether in that meeting the replacement of Ulloa will be analyzed, who was appointed through an unprecedented process: a consulting firm studied the profile of five candidates and then they were interviewed by the Republic President. On that occasion, the names of the other four applicants were never revealed. Public consultation Meanwhile, sectors of civil society, such as the Citizen Alliance for Justice, advocate that the guidelines of the state of justice pact be taken into account to appoint Ulloa's replacement. This process involves the creation of a special pre-selection commission as a consultative and advisory body to the Cabinet Council. This, according to the guidelines of the State Commission for Justice, must be installed once the vacancy arises. This group must have the following members: a representative of the deans of the law schools of the different accredited universities with more than 15 years of service to the country; a representative of the National Bar Association; a representative of the Citizen Alliance for Justice; a representative of the Judicial Branch or the Public Ministry. The Ecumenical Committee of Panama will also participate. Then there will be a public announcement addressed to all applicants, later there will be an evaluation stage "based on objective criteria" that culminates with the sending of the list of candidates to the Cabinet Council. The list must have a maximum of 15 candidates and a minimum of 10. Then the Cabinet, led by Cortizo, must choose the figure suitable for the position. Until now, this mechanism has not been used by any President of the Republic. The crisis While Cortizo and the Cabinet agree on the method to choose Ulloa's replacement, the country's justice system is plunged into an alley of uncertainty: corruption cases remain on edge, prosecutors and Public Ministry officials are threatened its stability, and the perception that there is public insecurity is installed on the public agenda. Yesterday the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Panama, a union chaired by Jean-Pierre Leignadier, issued a statement entitled: "Justice has no room for more follies." There the union exposes a diagnosis of the current situation, and demands real consequences in the face of the abuses detected in the shelters that are under the supervision of the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and the Family. In the document, the Chamber of Commerce also warns that society continues to wait for the changes it has long demanded regarding the administration of justice. “Today we are again faced with the challenge of a vacancy in the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, which has left more questions than clear answers. It is noteworthy that after having made a career within the Public Ministry, the Attorney General supports his resignation in an alleged ignorance of the public scrutiny of the position and the depth of the weaknesses and needs of the system for which he had agreed to work ”, the guild manifests. https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/eduardo-ulloa-dejo-mas-dudas-que-respuestas/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted March 2, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted March 2, 2021 Quote A Damning Indictment Posted 01/03/2021 La Prensa’s front-page lead on Monday March 1 was a damning indictment of the former Attorney General and the people who appointed him.- Until yesterday, Eduardo Ulloa, was the Attorney General of the Nation, who resigned from office in such a hurry that he seems to have fled or been thrown out of it. Since he took office - in January of last year - we citizens have gone to an insignificant level for him, because he was never held accountable for what he did or planned to do. He handled with absolute and unacceptable obscurantism an entity created to prosecute crime. And in his noisy stampede, he refused to give us a logical, sensible and credible explanation of the reasons that led him to leave office. Too many questions remain unanswered. Only a few are listed in this issue, because the list is obviously much longer. And if Ulloa did not answer these questions when he was a civil servant, now it will be less. It is ironic that one of the reasons why he was elected Attorney General –according to President Laurentino Cortizo– was because of his well-evaluated written communication skills, but especially oral communication, because in many cases he would have to answer questions of the media. But Ulloa, as his administration progressed, hid, barricaded himself in his office, precisely, so as not to answer for his actions, omissions and decisions. The entire process for his election, first by specialists, then by the President, and finally by the Cabinet, was a great disappointment. Contrary to what Ulloa expresses in his resignation letter, public service can have difficult moments, but done conscientiously, without second agendas, effectively and selflessly, and with genuine love for the country, it will always be recognized and rewarded. There are not many cases, it is true, but there are examples in our history, although not so recent, because in recent decades politics has become a vehicle to make easy money at the expense of the State, something that Ulloa never had the determination to do. fight with courage and passion, as we all expected of him. We hold the President of the Republic and his Cabinet directly responsible for the resounding failure represented by the management of Eduardo Ulloa at the head of the Public Ministry. Such a notable mistake in choosing the person who would be in charge of prosecuting the crimes is unforgivable. The Executive has also been indifferent to a serious situation, today there is no doubt that negligence in the face of the punishment of criminals - as the FATF list shows - is a threat to national security. He never corrected or paid attention to it, despite the obvious signs emanating from this institution. The ineffectiveness of the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation only creates uncertainty, since, by shielding officials against serious investigations, it only encourages and aggravates the network of corruption that is taking over the State, at all levels. Ulloa has only been a nail in that coffin –not so imaginary– where the Government wants the country's institutions to rest. We all hope that in this new opportunity to appoint his replacement, the Executive will have the decency to correct the course. The country cannot stand one more incompetent. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/a-damning-indictment-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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