Beatriz Carles de Arango, Minister of Social Development, appeared this Wednesday, April 1st, before the National Assembly to answer questions about the functioning of the child and adolescent protection system under state supervision. The topic entered the public agenda in February when Deputy Alexandra Brenes of the Vamos bloc denounced irregularities at the Tocumen Integral Care Center (CAI), a shelter administered by the National Secretariat of Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (Senniaf). The Legislative branch rearranged its schedule and moved the plenary session from the afternoon to the morning. Minister Carles de Arango presented herself to the deputies at 11:12 a.m., accompanied by her team, including Lilibeth Cárdenas, the new director of Senniaf. Minutes before the minister took her seat, Deputy Brenes questioned the quorum, noting only 49 of the 71 deputies were present for such a relevant event. The minister affirmed that they had not received any other complaints about shelter irregularities, except for the one from Deputy Brenes. She also stated that five officials had been dismissed from the Tocumen CAI at the request of the Attorney General's Office. In her response, she did not acknowledge systemic failures that allowed for violations in the shelters.
