A criminal complaint has been filed against the Minister of Government, Dinoska Montalvo, for alleged serious irregularities in the implementation of Law 467 of 2025. This law transferred the Community Peace Justice system from the mayor's offices to the Ministry of Government, effective January 1, 2026. The legal action alleges that the transition, which was supposed to be orderly, gradual, and respectful of acquired rights, was carried out abruptly, chaotically, and contrary to the law. This affected sitting judges and citizens' access to community justice. The complaint directly accuses the minister of committing the crimes of abuse of authority and violation of public servant duties, as defined in articles 355 and 356 of the Penal Code. According to the complaint, on January 2, 2026, new community judges were hand-picked nationwide, replacing officials whose terms were still in force without a competition, disciplinary procedure, or motivated administrative act, in clear violation of Law 467 and its Regulatory Decree 25 of 2025. Among the most sensitive cases is that of Judge Vanessa Elizabeth Vergara Espinosa, who was not only illegally replaced but was also protected by maternal immunity. The complaint states that the minister was fully aware of this constitutional protection and yet proceeded with the replacement, constituting an aggravated arbitrary act. Replacements without formal resolutions, such as that of Judge Miguel Ucadis Palma Caicedo, and early terminations in Betania, Panama, Colón, La Chorrera, and Chiriquí are also reported, affecting more than two dozen community judges.
