Complaint filed over ham giveaway

LA PRENSA/Ana Rentería

Gálvez ha sido criticado por repartir jamones adquiridos con fondos públicos.

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18/12/2012 - Members of the civic group Movimiento 2000 de Arraiján presented a complaint today to the Supreme Court against National Assembly President Sergio Gálvez for the use of state resouces for political purposes.

The complaint is based on a recent event where Gálvez distributed 30,000 hams, worth an estimated $675,000, to his constituents. The hams were purchased with state resources.

Movement leader Luis González said that such acts must be punished.

"We must put them in jail," he said referring to politicians who abuse state resources.

SECRETARY OF THE ASSEMBLY DEFENDS GÁLVEZ

Meanwhile, Wigberto Quintero, secretary general of the National Assembly, did not rule out that political elements are behind the complaint.

Quintero said that the giveaway, which is an annual event. has been endorsed by the Comptroller and seeks to benefit poor residents in El Chorrillo.

"If you look at the history of the country, it has always been done," Quintero said.

DENOUNCED

Panameñista Legislator José Luis Varela denounced today the use of state funds through the Ministry of Economy and Finance "without any discretion" for political purposes.

Varela was speaking about the $675,000 spent by National Assembly President Sergio Gálvez to buy 30,000 hams for his constituents.

"He gave out in a day what I have given out in five years," Varela said.

Varela appealed to the population to vote to its conscious in the next elections in 2014. He reminded them that they ultimately pay for items that are purchased with tax dollars, saying the people are being scammed.