Vice Rectors of the University of Panama, together with lawyers from the University Defender, Apudep, and student leaders, accompanied five students who presented themselves at the National Prosecutor's Office after being summoned due to their alleged participation in the protests on January 31.
Dr. José Emilio Moreno, Academic Vice Rector, along with Mgter. Mayanín Rodríguez, were with the young people who went to the Public Ministry to guarantee the integrity and safety of the students from the first institution of higher education. 'We have come to face justice so it cannot be said that we are criminals hiding behind the university; on the contrary, as students, we have the role of being a critical conscience of the nation, and we are fulfilling our responsibility as students,' the university students explained before entering the facilities.
Arturo Trelles, from the legal team representing those summoned by the Public Ministry, explained that they had made themselves available to the authority to later be transferred to the National Police, awaiting the guarantee hearing. Similarly, he called on Jaime Fernández, director of the National Police, to respect the separation of their functions, as the institution is an auxiliary arm for an investigation.
Regarding the charges they face, they are related to crimes against life and personal integrity, in the modality of personal injury, and against public administration for obstructing police work. 'In this process, there is only evidence from the Police, and at no time has the Public Ministry given the students the opportunity to present their evidence,' Trelles indicated.
Recently, the guarantee judge of the First Judicial Circuit, Fermín Bonilla, imposed precautionary measures on two possible individuals involved in an alleged assault on a police officer during the protests on January 31. He also reminded them of Article 5 of the criminal procedural code, which establishes that it is the Public Ministry that is responsible for directing investigations.
