Investigation into Christmas Bag Sales in Panama

The head of the Institute of Agropecuary Marketing (IMA), Nilo Murillo, stated that in a new era, there are control bodies and training that comply with the regulations established by law. He clarified that as long as he is at the head of this or any other institution, actions will be taken in accordance with what the law establishes. Murillo believes that perhaps what they were doing was buying Christmas bags through third parties to give away or resell them, as a form of political clientelism, to try to benefit the people to whom they delivered the products. The head of the IMA portfolio made it clear that the reported conduct "is a crime punished by law," because a national program is being used to take advantage of "a political situation that is not the correct one." Euclides Pimentel Delgado, representative of the Tortí district in Chepo, for the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), will be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office for the crime against public administration, due to the alleged sale and distribution of Christmas bags from the Institute of Agropecuary Marketing (IMA), following a complaint filed with the institution. Nilo Murillo, general director of the IMA, disclosed the name of the accused at a press conference in which he also explained that from 5:30 a.m. and until around 8:30 a.m. this Friday, a search and seizure warrant was carried out at the residence where the boxes with products from the Christmas bag sold by the entity were found. "This is a way to protect you, to avoid situations." During the operation, 17 Christmas bags and 9 hams were recovered. In this case, the person who kept the bags at his home and who reported the illicit act via WhatsApp to the IMA has been detained for investigation, as the boxes with the products were in his residence. During the process, all persons determined to be witnesses to the illicit act will be called to testify to point out those who participated and also all those who are directly pointed out by the primary informant, Murillo indicated. Murillo regretted what happened and made a call to all representatives of district, mayors, and deputies: "Do you realize how I was talking a few days ago?"