Cartel's Takeover: IPS Used as 'Cash Cow' for Businesses, Warns Raúl Benítez

Opposition deputy Raúl Benítez has accused the government of President Santiago Peña of treating the Institute of Social Security (IPS) as a "cash cow" to fund private business interests, while neglecting the healthcare needs of its insured members.

Benítez stated that the admission by Senate President Basilio "Bachi" Núñez of plans to take over the General Comptroller's Office is part of a broader strategy by the "cartismo" faction to ensure absolute impunity. This, he argues, allows them to continue using the IPS and the state as sources for personal business ventures.

"The IPS is the cash cow for this government for the businesses they intend," Benítez said, linking it to President Peña's "ties" to Ueno bank, whose operations he claims Peña cannot adequately explain. He highlighted that while "cartistas" focus on IPS as a business portfolio, they are failing to address a critical warning from IPS president Isaías Fretes about a catastrophic deficit in medications, supplies, and services if urgent tender limitations are not resolved via executive decree.

Benítez further asserted that institutional weakness is being exploited. Laws have been passed to favor specific banks, and IPS regulations were created to benefit Ueno, with violations occurring without consequence. He pointed to the IPS and the Superintendence of Pensions being forced to admit they violated fund deposit limits to favor Ueno, only retracting after being caught. This, he concluded, signifies a loss of control and the imposition of "free will" within state institutions, further cemented by the "copamiento" of judicial oversight bodies and the judiciary itself.