Panama's President José Raúl Mulino called for a tougher and more socially committed justice system, stating that in Panama it cannot continue to be the case that the police arrest criminals and the judges release them back onto the streets. 'More than 60,000 apprehensions in a year are pointless if they end up being released. This causes pain, helplessness, and deep indignation,' he expressed. Mulino emphasized that the violence affects not only police officers but also innocent people, including children and women. 'We need stricter laws and for them to be applied firmly,' he added. The president also offered condolences to the family of Captain José Isaza Melo, who fell in the line of duty, and mentioned the death of a 2-year-old girl in La Chorrera, pointing to the high level of social intolerance and decay in the country. 'If we don't correct this, the message is that crime pays. Guarantees should be for the victims, not for murderers, drug traffickers, or gangs,' Mulino concluded.
