28 groups call for ombudsperson firing

ON THE EVE of her appearance before the country's lawmakers, 28 citizen organizations called on the National Assembly to remove Ombudsperson Patria Portugal from her post.

The request was accompanied by the signatures of 350 citizens.

The petition stated "allegations of misuse of state resources by the ombudsman has not been investigated by the Comptroller General and do not have justifications."
It further states that Portugal "is without the moral or ethical strength to defend the human rights of the inhabitants of the republic, affecting many Panamanians."
Faced with this situation, "we call on the Assembly to remove her from the post for having acted negligently and with little regard to the resources of the institution, to the detriment of its functions."
The petition also called for an investigation into the spending.
The Commission of Justice and Peace called on the authorities to conduct an expeditious and transparent investigation into the allegations and impose exemplary sanctions on those who are responsible.
It stressed that to exercise its functions, the Office of the Ombudsman is required to gain legitimacy through its work and service to the community, becoming an ethical power capable of demanding and obtaining the expected results.
"Complaints in recent days against the performance of the authority are against the goals for which this institution was created," it said.
The plenary of the National Assembly will question Patria Portugal Thursday, and members have said that they are waiting to hear her explanations.
Members agreed on 13 questions that Portugal will have to answer, and said she could be asked more .
CD Deputy Agustin Shelhorn, who presented the questions to Portugal, said, "we are hoping that she comes tomorrow to the plenary to answer the questions, we want an explanation."
Portugal will be questioned at 9 a.m.