Transparency boss wants Assembly to probe its nepotism
THE director of the National Authority of Transparency and Access to Information (Antai), Angelica Maytin, has asked the president of the National Assembly, Yanibel Ábrego, to create a commission to investigate possible cases of nepotism within the Legislative Body.
In a letter addressed to Ábrego, the Maytin notes that public complaints have emerged over “situations of nepotism between deputies” and the staff attached to their respective offices reports La Prensa.
According to Maytin, the commission may “confirm or discard “possible ties of kinship or consanguinity in the following cases: the deputy of Cambio Democrático (CD), Marylín Vallarino, who has her husband Agustín Sellhorn as substitute and her daughters as advisors; the PRD deputy Rosa Song who has under contract her sister Isabel Song , and two children. Maytin also mentioned in the list the deputy Absalón Herrera, who hired his wife Nelkis Irina, his in-laws Betty Lutter and Alberto Lutter.
CD deputy Edwin Zúniga hired his brother Elam Zúñiga; and CD deputy Mario Miller, hired relatives.CD deputy Nelson Jackon, who named his wife Yuri de Jackson; Iracema Ayarza, PRD, hired her children Jessica and Percival Dale, and her sister-in-law Iris Baruco de Ayarza. D eputy Jaime Pedrol designated his sister-in-law Socorro de Pedrol; and Benicio Robinson, PRD, named his son Jaime Robinson. Panamenista Jorge Alberto Rosas has Armando Guerra as deputy director of the Lottery.
Adolfo Valderrama, Panamenista deputy, has his nephew Rodrigo Botello and his mother-in-law Gabriela Chiari, and the Panamenista Katleen Levy employs her cousin Gino Díaz. Franz Wever, Secretary General of the Assembly, adds his children Franz and Ariadna Wever.
“Finally, we should recommend, if true, that you include the case of your niece, Mintoys Ávila, who allegedly works in the office attached to your person, “Maytin wrote to Ábrego.
Maytín recalled that Article 12 of the Code of Ethics and Parliamentary Honor, has the power to form a commission. She added that if the allegations are confirmed, they should proceed to sanction the deputies.
