The President of the Public Procurement Tribunal Says ‘There is No Conflict of Interest’ Regarding the Appointment of her Daughter Sherina.
The official, Sherina pictured below, faced legal proceedings for a traffic accident that occurred in 2003, in which a minor died.
Judge Zaira Santamaría de Latorraca pictured below, president of the Administrative Court of Public Procurement (TACP), justified the appointment of her daughter Sherina Latorraca, who since last April has been the director of Legal Advice of the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP). Although they are two autonomous entities with their own assets and hierarchy, the TACP and the DGCP fall under the same jurisdiction (that of public procurement).
While Judge Latorraca maintains that one is unrelated to the other, the tribunal she heads is responsible for handling all claims not resolved by the DGCP “within its timeframe for resolution,” as well as appeals filed against the resolutions issued by that office. Therefore, the magistrate maintains that there is no conflict of interest; she even pointed out that her daughter, despite the high position she holds, “does not participate in the decision-making of the DGCP.” The hiring of Sherina was one of the most contentious points of the presentation by Judge Latorraca, who on Monday, August 24, went to the Budget Committee of the National Assembly to support the budget requested for 2027, which is $2.6 million.
Congressman Jhonathan Vega, from the Vamos party, brought the issue to the table and openly addressed conflicts of interest and the perception of favoritism in access to public office. Judge Zaira Santamaría de Latorraca , president of the Administrative Court of Public Procurement (TACP), justified the appointment of her daughter Sherina Latorraca , who since last April has been the director of Legal Advice of the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP). Although they are two autonomous entities with their own assets and hierarchy, the TACP and the DGCP fall under the same jurisdiction (that of public procurement).
While Judge Latorraca pictured above, maintains that one is unrelated to the other, the tribunal she heads is responsible for handling all claims not resolved by the DGCP “within its timeframe for resolution,” as well as appeals filed against the resolutions issued by that office. Therefore, the magistrate maintains that there is no conflict of interest; she even pointed out that her daughter, despite the high position she holds, “does not participate in the decision-making of the DGCP.”
