Panama’s Mayor of Arraiján Defends the Demolition of the Chinese Monument and Responds to the ACP’s Complaint
Amid both controversies, Peñalba maintained that all his decisions have been ‘technically sound and focused on prevention’.
The mayor of Arraiján, Estefany Peñalba, has broken her silence. The controversy surrounding the demolition of the so-called “Chinese monument” at the Bridge of the Americas viewpoint is now linked to a second institutional conflict: the Panama Canal Authority’s (ACP) complaint that, since August 2025, it has been unable to obtain a construction permit from the local government for the Brujas-Cocolí highway, the main access road to the locks.
Amid both controversies, Peñalba gave an interview to the radio program Hablemos Claro after the national uproar and defended that all her decisions have been “technically based and oriented towards prevention”. Peñalba began by addressing the dispute that sparked the crisis with the Chinese community and generated questions from the President of the Republic himself, José Raúl Mulino. She categorically denied that what was demolished was a monument. “That is not a monument or a historical landmark. It is a scenic overlook park, and that is established in official documents,” she stated, alluding to a 2004 resolution that designated the Panamanian Chinese Association as the site’s “sponsor.”
The Intervention
The mayor insisted that her administration decided to renovate the viewpoint in 2024, when they began planning an urban renewal project for the area. She recounted that she held several meetings—”four or five, plus one with the ambassador”—with representatives of the Chinese community, who opposed the renovation. “It’s one thing for them not to like the response; it’s another to say I didn’t listen to them,” she said. The breaking point came when, according to Peñalba, the structure began to show signs of concrete falling away.
“We took action to prevent accidents. We have three reports: one from the municipal technical department, one from SINAPROC (National Civil Protection System), and one from an external source,” she explained. Although SINAPROC publicly stated that it did not recommend demolishing the structure, the mayor maintained that the report indicated risks: “They said that regrettable accidents could occur. What am I supposed to do about that?” she questioned.
The demolition, carried out on a Saturday at nine o’clock at night, raised further suspicions. Peñalba defended the decision: “If I had done it on a Monday at eight in the morning, I would have been criticized then too. We considered traffic and safety. That road doesn’t allow for hiding anything.” To accusations that she acted under external pressure or recommendations, she responded with a firm “no.” “The decisions were made for safety and prevention.
If anything had happened to anyone, I would be the one primarily responsible,” she declared, emphasizing that her administration has “activated” the viewpoint with portable toilets, municipal security, and cultural activities. Pressure mounted when the president and foreign minister, Javier Martínez-Acha, announced that the monument would be rebuilt on the same site. The mayor lamented that “the action has been misrepresented.” “We maintain our position: those structures posed a danger. And no decision was illegal,” she asserted.
Another Conflict
The other conflict involves the collection of taxes from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) for the Brujas-Cocolí highway. Peñalba denied that she was “running away” from the issue. “When I can’t attend, the deputy mayor goes to the Municipal Council. Sometimes I’m out in the streets, where the problems are,” she asserted.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP), however, reported that it applied for the construction permit on August 25, 2025, and has not received a response, nor has it been able to meet with the mayor. Peñalba responded that the responsibility for the process does not fall solely on her: “I cannot grant a permit if there is no tax exemption. That is the responsibility of the Municipal Council. And they have indeed been courteous and held meetings with the representatives.”
The underlying cause of the disagreement points to tensions over municipal autonomy. “I call for respect for the autonomy of the territories. We have the power to make decisions within the framework of Article 233 of the Constitution,” the mayor stated. In her closing remarks, Peñalba again defended the motivation behind the demolition and how she has managed the relationship with the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). “I prefer a media issue surrounding the removal of deteriorated structures to having a death attributed to irresponsibility. And, regarding the ACP, we followed all legal procedures. Nothing has been done outside the established rules,” she concluded.
