OFF THE CUFF: Return of the Diablos rojos and a resident spy devil
THE ALLEGED existence of a bill that would authorize the importation of used U.S. school buses to Panama , to become “diablos rojos (red devils) has been described by users of the transport system as a throwback and has ignited a controversy, while a former Colombian, spy chief labeled as a devil in her own country is still free on the streets of the capital
The chairman of the Committee on Transport and Communication of the National Assembly, Diogenes Vergara, denied the existence of such a proposal, but said the move could be applied in regions like Chepo, Colon and and La Chorrera, which still operate the noise and air polluting buses that need to be replaced.
His position was endorsed by Ludmila de Angulo, National Chamber of Transport, who said that there is need for vehicles in the capital, San Miguelito and other areas of the province of Panama.
The deputy director of the Transit Authority and Land Transport, Ruben Chavez, was more cautious saying they are “very respectful” of the concession of Mi Bus which operates the Metro Bus system which was supposed to see the end of the diablos rojos, hundreds of which went to the devils’ graveyard in Panama Pacifico to be sold for scrap.
Executive Order 780, 2011 prohibits import of the U.S. clunkers.
SAFE HAVEN– The Supreme Court says that the granting of political asylum to Maria del Pilar Hurtado was unconstitutional. She is charged in Colombia with illegal wiretapping of Judges, political opponents of the president, and journalists, and embezzlement, But two requests for extradition have been turned down because of some paperwork mix-up. The latest decision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deny an extradition request the former Security Director María del Pilar Hurtado has been positively received by her lawyer, Jaime Camacho.
Camacho confirmed to Colombian radio station Blu Radio that the former official is in Panama and that he has spoken with her by phone and text messages. “Today, coincidentally, I communicated with her via text to ask if she had heard about the decision,” the lawyer said. “She told me that she is still in Panama.” he said. Would Panama deny the request if it came from the U.S.?
