An “irregular” situation occurred on the evening of Tuesday, March 24, at the Comprehensive Care Center (CAI) in Tocumen, where a group of teenagers was involved in an incident that affected coexistence within the shelter. This was reported by the National Secretariat for Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (Senniaf), which detailed that the event caused material damage, the theft of money, and the escape of several minors, which immediately activated search protocols in coordination with the authorities. Following the incident, an operation was deployed in which the director of Senniaf, Lilibeth Cárdenas; the Ombudsman, Eduardo Leblanc González; units of the Police for Childhood and Adolescence; and personnel from the Ministry of Social Development and the Public Prosecutor's Office participated. The authorities indicated that containment and security measures were activated to safeguard the integrity of both the adolescents and the center's staff. Currently, investigations continue to clarify what happened at the CAI in Tocumen and to determine possible responsibilities. This new incident comes amidst previous questioning about the management of the shelter system in Panama, especially in centers administered by Senniaf. The case has gained prominence following complaints initiated by Deputy Alexandra Brenes, who has pointed out possible irregularities and alleged crimes within this state shelter. In turn, Senniaf assured that it will continue to work together with the relevant institutions to strengthen care measures and ensure safe and dignified environments.
