OFF THE CUFF: Martinellis shrinking team

EX PRESIDENT Ricardo Martinelli, who  faces  the upcoming delivery of Interpol arrest warrants and numerous corruption prosecutions,  seems more concerned over his rebellious CD Deputies.

He  has sent a note to National Assembly President Rubén of León informing him that the CD party, which he founded to further his political ambitions,  only recognizes nine of the 25 members who make up the caucus.

The letter dated July 12 and is notarized and apostilled by the Panama consulate in Miami, where Martinelli has been living since he fled Panama and continues to try rule his party by Twitter and email.

The former president and party leader said that the other 16 members are facing “disciplinary proceedings” for failing to follow the instructions of party officials in the Assembly election July 1.

The letter said that the leader of the caucus is Edwin Zúñiga. The other members are Carlos Afú, Fernando Carrillo, Aris De Icaza, Mariela Vega, Rubén Frías, Mario Miller, Sergio Gálvez and Héctor Aparicio, many oF whom have controversial histories while feeding at the political trough.

CD party prosecutor Tomás Martinelli announced on July 11 that the 16 other party members would face expulsion for not supporting Carrillo for the presidency of the Assembly.

Those deputies are Raúl Hernández, Yanibel Ábrego, Dana Castañeda, Noriel Salerno, Manuel Cohen, Nelson Jackson, José Muñoz, Héctor Valdés Carrasquilla, Mario Lazarus, Marylín Vallarino, Rony Araúz, Dalia Bernal, Vidal García, Salvador Real, Juan Manuel Poveda and Absalón Herrera reports La Prensa