The Panama Comptroller’s Office Seizes Assets Worth Nearly 50 Million Dollars Following Audits.

The Comptroller General of the Republic, Anel Flores pictured below, reported this Monday that the audits carried out to date by the entity have resulted in precautionary seizures and confiscations of assets worth approximately $50 million.  Flores, who appeared before the National Assembly’s Budget Committee to present the entity’s budget, explained that upon assuming office in January 2025, he found 1,091 pending audit requests.  Of that total, he said, some 615 have already been taken care of and 476 remain in the process of being completed.  These are in addition to 841 new requests received during 2025 and 2026, of which 601 have been referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.  

A significant portion of these investigations are related to the management of decentralization funds allocated to district representatives during the previous administration (2019-2024).  To date, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is analyzing a total of 72 audit reports related to irregularities in the handling of funds from the so-called parallel decentralization.  These investigations, the prosecutor’s office indicated, have led to charges being filed against 99 people, the last two on August 7. Official data from the Decentralization Authority reveals that $320 million was disbursed without any supporting documentation through the Social Interest Program (PDIS).

Property Damage.

The number of precautionary measures emerged after a question made by Deputy José Pérez Barboni, from the Seguimos caucus, about the amount of the possible patrimonial damage detected in the completed audits.  Flores warned him that it is not possible to accurately establish the total economic damage, because in “high-profile” investigations some former officials allegedly used front men or assets registered in the name of family members.  What we have safeguarded, I believe we are reaching 50 million more or less,” the comptroller responded.  Flores also took the opportunity to explain what he means by “high-profile” officials. He said he uses that category to refer to people who held positions of command and publicly recognized jurisdiction and who, according to investigations, “radically changed their lives” after entering and leaving government.  However, he indicated that the Comptroller’s audits are not limited to those cases: “We are conducting audits at all levels,” he stated.

Budget.

Comptroller Flores presented a budget for 2027 of approximately $145 million. He explained that they had initially requested a budget of $149.9 million from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, but it was reduced by $4.9 million.  That decrease, he said, primarily affected operating expenses. The investment budget of $2.6 million remained “untouched.”  According to data presented by Flores, the Comptroller’s Office has reduced the endorsement process from 266 days (in 2024) to 3.5 days. Meanwhile, the collection process has decreased from 188 days to 3.8 days.