Ex-president Varela locks horns with “cowardly” Martinelli
Former president, Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019) denounced on Monday, December 6 the false accusations that another ex-president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) has made against him in social networks, local and international media.
According to Varela, Martinelli has used the decision made during his government administration not to continue the failed radar project to make “unfounded accusations” against him.
Varela said that he will face this “baseless campaign” in whatever field is necessary.
“The accusations and cowardly attitude of former President Martinelli only seek to divert attention from the multiple cases of corruption he faces in Panama and other countries,” said a statement issued on Monday.
In August 2014, Varela announced the suspension of the contract signed in 2010 by the Martinelli government with Selex, a Finmeccanica subsidiary, for the purchase of 19 radars for $125 million. He claimed that the artifacts did not meet technical specifications.
The Public Ministry initiated an investigation on August 11, 2015, based on a report from the Ministry of Public Security that indicated that the radars purchased from Selex did not detect the speedboats used by drug traffickers on the Panamanian coast.
“During my administration, the largest investments ever recorded in equipment were made for the security forces, including the acquisition of a logistics vessel, helicopters, patrol aircraft, interceptor boats, among other investments, in order to reinforce the fight against drug trafficking. , which entailed a record of 344.39 tons of drugs seized ”, Varela pointed out.
He affirmed that in his more than 35 years of public and private life, neither he nor any member of his family has been involved in activities related to drug trafficking.
