Pawns sacrificed in land grab scandal says deputy

Another head rolled in the Piatilla land grab scandal on Thursday  as the  director of the National Land Authority (Anati), resigned.

Alejandro Castillero, submitted  his resignation to President, Ricardo Martinelli, and it  was accepted said a message from the Presidency.

Castillero, served less than a year. He took office in November 2010, Anabel Villamonte submitted her resignation as Director of Certification and Regulation of Anati on September 16.

Anati has beenthe the center of public attention for the last month because of expedited granting of land titles for alleged possession rights.

 The biggest scandal was the awarding, free of charge, an 11,379 square meters of land  in Punta Paitilla, overlooking the bay of Panama to Segura society Ventures, SA, even though the land waS earmarked for a public park.

The Public Ministry is investigating  the transaction but Panameñista deputy Joseph I. Blandon regarded the resignations as a smokescreen: covering the scandals that have arisen with  giving free land in the capital city yo millionaires." Blandon said on RPC Radio, that "The aim is to hide  who are the only true beneficiaries of these awards…”In chess pawns are sometimes sacrificed to save the king."