Fleeing ex-CD candidate arrested at airport

A FORMER Democratic Change (CD) candidate, attempting to flee the country was arrested at Tocumen International Airport on Thursday July 2 and taken to the Third Anti-Corruption Prosecutor who is investigating the failed Tonosí irrigation project.

 Porfirio “Bolita” Porfirio,  who was a candidate for deputy in Veraguas province ,received a $319,000 check from Summer Venture, Inc signed by Felipe Alejandro Pipo Virzi, former vice-president and currently under house arrest while under investigation for corruption and money laundering.
Pipo Virzi received $ 10 million – through a check and bank transfer from Hidalgo and Hidalgo , shortly after the company was awarded the $150 million contract.
In his statement, to the prosecutor Virzi said he entered the irrigation project through an “invitation” from Ellis, “to support [the project] which will take place”.
The check drawn for Ellis was dated August 14, 2012. Virzi also told the prosecutor that “immediately after the first payment was made  Ellis started to give me instructions from President Ricardo Martinelli, on how to distribute my payment,”
Considered one of the main proponents of Martinelli after leaving the ranks of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD)  in 2009, Ellis changed his lifestyle in the next five years says La Prensa.
He currently owns a rodeo track in Veraguas called “Rodeo Team Bolita” Which has-been the home of the rodeo circuit in the east of the province.
He has apartments in the capital city and is in the Banana growing business..
He also it imports US and Spanish “quarter horse stallions ” and promotes on line racing.The animals are trained for sale. He is an officer of the company Livestock Pasca, SA formed in the past five years, and currently engaged in the production of high quality cattle, as well as the sale and distribution of Semen and Embryos, reports La Prensa.