Martinelli made personal threats say deputies

President Ricardo Martinelli has personally threatened representatives of the Panameñista (now opposition) Party say two deputies.

Jose Blandon and Jose Luis Varela, brother of Vice President Juan Carlos Varela, said that Martinelli has told them personally and through emissaries, that there are  "records" against them , which, he claims, are for  alleged mismanagement of items from the Social Investment Fund (FIS), reflected in the audit that the government ordered in 2009.

"I have records on  all of you. I know what companies are used for contracts and all that,” he told Blandon on Monday at a meeting in the Presidential Palace also attended by Varela, Deputy Luis Eduardo Quirós, and ministers Demetrio Papadimitriu, and Salomon Shamah says La Prensa.

Blandon , said he told the President to disclose the documents and stop the "threats."

After that meeting there was another threatening message from Martinelli he claimed.

At a meeting  with deputies on Tuesday, shortly before the breakup of the  Government alliance the  President took a newspaper where an  unnamed deputy’s photo appeared and, pointing to the  photo,said:  "He has been  a pain in the ass all these days and now I'm going to fuck him."

Blandon also referred to the Punta Paitilla landfill, which was given free to a corporation belonging to associates of Martinelli, another turning point in the alliance. "If it were not for Alberto Vallarino, Carlos Duboy and Juan Carlos Varela, the Government would have approved the expropriation  of the land and paid $28 million dollars compensation because that was the last assessed value of the land," he said.

He added: "What really killed the idea of eminent domain was that Vallarino refused to sign the document" 

José Luis Varela acknowledged that several colleagues have received indirect threats: all have been told that there are records against them. He said  they have increased steps to ensure their personal safety.

La Prensa says  a reporter tried unsuccessfully to get a response from the presidency.