Complaint filed against Tamburrelli

LA PRENSA/Archivo

Giacomo Tamburrelli

17/10/2012 - The Panameñsta party will present a complaint today to the Public Ministry against Giacomo Tamburrelli for alleged mismanagement during his administration of the National Assistance Program (PAN).

Alternate Legislator Grimaldo Cordoba said that questions need to be answered about the program, which was allegedly used to fund pet projects in areas controlled by government politicians.

"Tamburrelli has not said anything," Cordoba said.

Tamburrelli left PAN in August to become the director of the National Mortgage Bank, a position he recently left in the midst of allegations over PAN. Among those allegations are that he used money from the program, which is supposed to assist Panama's poorest citizens, to build a road to land his father-in-law owns in Los Santos, thus greatly increasing its value.

Presidential spokesman Luis Eduardo Camacho called the opposition claims "reckless" and demanded that they offer proof.

Camacho said that the courts should handle these issues, and not the media.

"If we want to strengthen democracy and institutions, we can not deal with unfounded accusations," Camacho said.