Former Health Minister refused to sanction  escape flight for Martinelli brothers

The former Minister of Health Rosario said on Monday, January 8, that her departure from government in 2020 occurred for several reasons, among them, because she refused to sign the humanitarian flight in favor of the brothers Ricardo and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, fined the ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) and did not endorse the efforts of the Ministry of the Presidency regarding the purchase of medicines.

The Martinelli Linares brothers, before being detained in Guatemala on July 6, 2020, arranged with the Civil Aeronautics Authority a private flight to which they had given “humanitarian” status, using the plane with registration number N799RM owned by the family.

“I received a request for a humanitarian trip from the Martinelli brothers, which I had my doubts about, I asked for more information from different State entities, but I did not receive them, therefore, I did not sign it,” Turner confessed, three years after her departed from the Government and currently the candidate for vice president of former president Martín Torrijos, for the Popular Party.

Pn June 24, 2020, without further official explanations, President, Cortizo, announced Turner’s departure, alleging “wear and tear” on the part of the official, although the media indicated that the departure had had to do with the escape plan the Martinelli Linares brothers. She was replaced by the current Health Minister Luis Francisco Sucre.

The former minister in an interview on TVN also pointed out that another aspect of her departure had to do with the $50,000 fine that the Ministry of Health imposed on the PRD for failing to comply with the health measures implemented by the ministry.

While all Panamanians were confined to their homes, PRD deputies met in a local restaurant, without masks and violating all health measures due to Covid-19.

“A series of scenarios occurred that were very complex. On the one hand, we had authorized an event for the deputies and they did not comply with the instructions to be able to carry it out and I fined the Democratic Revolutionary Party $50,000. Immediately the president of the party, Benicio Robinson, asked the Board of Directors to expel me from the party.” Turner said.

At the time, the PRD made public the proof of check, receipt, and payment to the National Treasury, clarifying that it was made with funds collected from private donations, not from electoral subsidies since the law does not allow it.

He added that, on the other hand, the issue of purchasing medicine and supplies was temporarily passed to a commission in the Presidency That commission had some technicians who had to consult us and they practically did not do so and they made decisions and then all those procedures returned to the ministry.

“I made the decision to create a commission to evaluate this management process and preliminarily I can tell you that I did not comply with most of the procedures, that is why I did not sign it. “I would never agree to do something that would be against my values and integrity.”

She added that she did not want to talk about the subject at the time because it was so difficult for her to think that “while professionals and myself were concerned about saving lives, there were people who were thinking about other ways to gain privileges and do things that are not within their reach.” the interests of what transparency should be.”

In the interview she responded that her dismissal as Minister of Health was surely a burden, but that it was the best thing that happened to her.