Medellín Mayor Questions Audit Integrity After Suspension Claim

Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez has weighed in on the audit of the Fábrica de Licores de Antioquia (FLA), urging a meticulous review to ensure the integrity of the company's assets. His comments came after the FLA's manager, Esteban Ramos, claimed a judge had ordered the suspension of the audit by the Superintendencia Nacional de Salud. Ramos characterized the audit as an attempt to undermine the company and vowed to protect the assets of Antioquia's residents. However, the Superintendencia Nacional de Salud clarified that its technical teams had already successfully completed the on-site data collection phase before any suspension announcement. The agency stated that its personnel had gathered all necessary information and supporting documents to verify the management of resources allocated to the health system. Gutiérrez, reacting to the news of the supposed suspension, supported the FLA's internal management and made a pointed remark: "Very well. If they managed to enter the FLA, we must check that nothing is missing. Not even a pair of socks [a colloquialism for 'not even a single item']," he stated, implying doubts about the transparency of the national officials' diligence. As the legal aspects of the situation unfold, the Superintendencia emphasized that the administrative process continues normally. With the field investigation concluded, the focus now shifts to the technical analysis of the gathered evidence to determine the FLA's compliance with current regulations and the proper use of public funds, thereby safeguarding the right to health in the department.