Investigation of use of public funds for political campaigning

A Panama newspaper exposure of the use of public funds for political campaigning has led to the opening of an official investigation

The exposure was published on Monday, April 1, by La Prensa, and later the same day electoral prosecutor, Eduardo Penaloza told Prensa.com that he had ordered the prosecutors of the Chiriqui and Veraguas to open an immediate official investigation.
"With regard to the publication of the possible use of public funds, the prosecution has proceeded to open an investigation and on finding those responsible, will, ask the criminal courts for exemplary punishment for this conduct," said Penaloza.
The prosecutor of Chiriqui, third circuit court, José Félix González, said that the data provided by the publication: the photos and names isenough to open an investigation.

"We have to do some research first, then comes a possible call for an inquiry," he said. " Immediately The prosecution heard the complaint, an investigation was started" he reiterated.
Sectors of civil society and political development agreed that the scandal involving the use of resources from the National Assistance Program (PAN) should be investigated and those responsible brought to justice..

Exx Electoral Tribunal (TE), judge William Marquez, and the director of the Justice and Peace Commission, Maribel Jaén, urged serious research by the Electoral Prosecutor, the Attorney General's Office and the Comptroller General of the Republic, for alleged misappropriation of funds and use of PAN for propaganda.
"This is a crime that tests using state assets to benefit a candidate, which is an unauthorized purpose. Therefore research should be initiated, "said Marquez Prensa.com.