Pedro Castillo is not listed as being investigated in this case, which is still in the preliminary investigation phase.
The Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office summoned President Pedro Castillo on Thursday to give his testimony on alleged pressure to promote military officers related to the leftist government, in a case whereby the opposition wants Congress to remove him from office.
“The Prosecutor of the Nation, Zoraida Avalos Rivera, summoned the President, Pedro Castillo Terrones, for next December 14 in the framework of the investigations,” announced the Prosecutor’s Office on his Twitter account.
The purpose of this summons is “to receive the testimonial statement from the president”, in a place to be determined by Castillo himself, the Prosecutor’s Office detailed in a statement.
Pedro Castillo is not listed as being investigated in this case, which is still in the preliminary investigation phase.
The Prosecutor’s Office opened this case on November 11 against the then Minister of Defense, Walter Ayala, and the Secretary of the Presidency, Bruno Pacheco, alleging alleged pressure on the heads of the Army and Air Force to favor some officers in the annual promotion process.
Both officials resigned and are now being investigated to determine whether they incurred in “the alleged commission of the crimes of abuse of authority and illegal patronage, provided for and sanctioned in the Penal Code ”.
Peru’s Defense Minister resigns after controversy over military promotions
Political upheaval
The case unleashed a political storm that could lead to impeachment of Castillo if Congress, dominated by the opposition, accepts on Tuesday to debate a motion in favor of the vacancy of the president.
This issue came to the fore when Castillo surprisingly removed the Chief of the Army, General José Vizcarra, and the Chief of the Air Force, General Jorge Chaparro, at the beginning of November.
The two generals affirmed that their departures were due to friction with Ayala and Pacheco, who asked them to irregularly promote officials related to the government. Both military chiefs had been appointed by Castillo in August. Promotions allegedly promoted by government officials did not materialize.
Others cited
In the framework of this investigation, the Office of the Attorney General announced this Thursday through a statement that in the coming days it will also summon five officers whom the Executive allegedly sought to favor.
Days ago, the Ávalos office received statements from José Vizcarra and Jorge Chaparro, among others.
In the midst of the controversy, President Castillo came out in recent weeks to ratify his “unrestricted respect for the institutions” of the Armed Forces, which he described as “guarantors of territorial integrity, the rule of law and constitutional order.” . (I)
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