Panamanian commentator Juan Pablo Barceló has filed a criminal complaint against presidential candidate Ricardo Lombana for defamation and slander. Barceló did not remain silent. The spark of the conflict was a comment made by Lombana in a video published by Barceló, where he wrote: "I hope you're getting paid well." Barceló admitted that "this probably won't lead to anything" due to Lombana's "power," but decided to proceed with the legal action. "He has to learn to respect, because he thinks he's the only person in this country who can be in opposition and that everything he says is true," Barceló stated firmly. The commentator criticized the current political climate in Panama, where any opinion for or against something is interpreted as being paid to speak. He recalled that in 2019, when Lombana was still unknown, he "took the hit," endured insults, and never received compensation for his opinions. Barceló pointed out that, in his opinion, Lombana "has become a pretentious, power-hungry person," and assured that this lawsuit is not just personal, but a message for everyone to respect the basic rules of dialogue in the country. The case is expected to generate tension in the coming days, as the public continues to closely follow every move of both protagonists.
