Page 46 - Anatomy-of-a-Fraud

Listed below are other proven cases of undue utilization of government
resources:

The General Community Development Agency (DIGEDECOM) has a

payroll of about 2,000 people. A high proportion of them are PRD activists11,
including the Director General, Humberto Lopez Tirones, Esq.
9
pie
Lopez Tirones is best remembered for having led the infamous “PRD Special
Command” during the campaign. This paramilitary organization is partially

responsible for the killing and wounding of opposition members on May 7.
The PRD used a Defense Forces helicopter to ferry party officials to
Nombre de Dios.12

Official vehicles were used to distribute liquor during the UNADE rally.
(See photographs in exhibit 8).
* The Labor Director of the Ministry of Labor (MITRAB) used her official
10

car for PRD political activities. (See photographs in exhibit 9).
Vehicles belonging to the Ministry of Health were used in the Chepo
municipal campaign.13
Alma Montenegro de Fletcher, a PRD legislative candidate, used the
IDAAN auditorium to conduct her courses precinct workers.14

*Barletta used the auditorium at the Social Security clinic in San
Miguelito for political rallies.15
* J. Espino, Esq., National Red Cross Chairman and ostensible a civil
servant on leave, who served as Barletta’s private secretary, is accused of

using a Red Cross vehicle for UNADE political activities.16
11

12
13 14

(*These were denounced formally –and to no avail– by Cochez, to the Office
of the Electoral District Attorney).

Now that the reader is aware of the details of some of the numerous instances
of undue utilization of government resources, he will readily understand why the
Panamanian bishops denounced these crimes so forcefully and clearly. However, he
should not be left with the impression that government support for Barletta was only
limited to these cases. Quite the opposite was true: the entire government machine was

11
The eminently political role of this official entity dates from 1972. Heckadon Moreno, Stanley:
Cuando se acaban los bosques, Impretex, S.A. Panamá, 1983. Page 151.
12 La Prensa, April 30, 1984, page 1A.
13
La Estrella de Panamá, June 12 and 13, 1984, pp. 40 & 56, respectively.
14
La Prensa, May 1, 1984, page 8C.
15
Ibid, January 25, 1984, page 1A.
16 Ya, March 29, 1984, page 1.