Police chief granted Noriega no photo request

TAPES  of  the arrival of former dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega, at the Renacer Prison, were not released at his request says Panama’s police chief.

Gustavo Perez, who was a lieutenant in one of  Noriega’s special repressive battalions prior to the 1989  US invasion, revealed Tuesday, December 20, that it was the brainchild of former dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega not 

to give the media the video of his arrival on  December 11. The filming was done  by National Police (PN) personnel under the  command of Perez.

"This is a person who has the right to say what shall and shall not be shown" said Perez.

He said that the transfer of the former general to El Renacer was done "with caution" because it was an exceptional case and there was  information that something would happen.

Noriega's arrival was recorded by a press officer of the PN, Jahir Polo, as seen on  the tapes and photos taken by the media covering the news.

According to Perez, the images are in the custody of the institution he leads and were not  provided to the media for "security issues". Requests by La Prensa to see  the videos received no response.

Perez was a member of the Defense Forces led by Noriega and became second in command of a Special Anti-Terrorist Unit.