Top level resignation fingers Justice Minister

Another sign  of internal rifts in Panama’s ruling party hierarchy emerged on  the weekend with   the resignation of the head of customs, Gloria Moreno de Lopez.

She  handed in her irrevocable resignation on Monday November 19  to the Directorate General of Customs.

Once again, the Minister of Public Security. Raoul Mulino figures appears in the scenario. "The Ministry of Security is taking too much power, and that concerns me. I fought against a military dictatorship where all power was under one man, " said. Moreno de Lopez

She said she  feels "cheated" by the Decree 871, published in the  Official Gazette on Friday, November 16, which provides for the creation of the Customs and Immigration departments, attached to Ministry of Security.

"It's an unforgivable setback " she said, Moreno de Lopez, whose resignation was accepted by the President, would not say whether to  waive her Democratic Change(CD) membership but said that she will not be politically active.

Mulino himself resigned irrevocably after a spat with the former Police Chief, but failed to follow through. He was recently involved in a verbal dispute with Education Minister Lucy Molinar over the appearance  of heavily armed border police in an Independence parade, comprised mostly of juveniles. Many of those with memories of the dictatorship years, felt that Mulino was sending a message that the CD intended  to stay in power whatever it takes,