The Comptroller General of the Republic, Anel Flores, revealed that several deputies from the Vamos Coalition have not fulfilled their accountability reports for their funds.
Flores assured that the commotion over the allocation of funds to certain municipalities is a smokescreen by the free deputies, who are running for office to divert attention. "We have fulfilled absolutely everything required by the law and we will continue to do so," Lombana said on his X account. Meanwhile, Brenes clarified that her accountability report was indeed submitted.
The deputy also explained that the extension request is expressly permitted by law, specifically by Law 32 of 1980 and Comptroller General Resolution 27-01 of 2025, and that this extension was even recommended by trained personnel from the Comptroller's own office during an orientation session held on December 25.
Assembly Flores expressed concern over the sustained growth of the National Assembly's payroll. He reiterated the proposal to eliminate the so-called "20-20" mechanism, which allows each deputy to handle up to twenty thousand dollars monthly in appointments.
"They are the first ones to tear their clothes out pointing at state issues, and this is wrong because if we want to start doing things right, the law has to start at home," Flores said in an interview with TVN Noticias.
Flores added: "I know that all of this is to divert attention, because all of these people are asking for an extension to render accounts of a year and a half of management when they should have presented it in the first year."
The comptroller said that "now what comes next is an audit of the post-election funds of these gentlemen and of the parties that we don't know how they used the money."
He emphasized that this is the people's money, which is sacred, and it will be seen what was done with those funds. Therefore, he believes a manual should be created on how to use that money and it must be approved by law.
Denials On the other hand, following the comptroller's statements, Lombana and Deputy Brenes responded on their social media. "We categorically reject the irresponsible statements of the Comptroller, implying that MOCA has not rendered accounts," she added. Regarding attendance irregularities, she said: "Those who don't clock in, don't get paid."
Flores explained that the payroll is around 7.1 million dollars and should be reduced to about 5 million. "Currently there are 1,011 people appointed under this figure, which represents nearly two million dollars monthly," he said. He also commented that the Assembly has over 3 thousand officials, some offices with more than 300 collaborators, so they are working on a progressive reduction.
Meanwhile, he criticized some independent deputies who, according to him, are now replicating practices they once questioned, such as the use of official vehicles, bodyguards, and massive hiring.
He revealed that the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Molirena, and the Other Way Movement (Moca) have not complied with the process. The comptroller directly pointed to Ricardo Lombana (Moca), Alexandra Brenes (Vamos), and Betserai Richards (Moca).
So why do the new deputies have the 20-20?
"Part of this commotion is to divert attention from the list of deputies who have not even rendered their accounts and the majority are from the Vamos Coalition," he said. He also pointed out that only four parties have submitted their accountability reports.
"In the Assembly there are more than 3 thousand officials, there is a bit of everything; I think there are even astronauts there. This is false."
