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Paraguay insured to protest over alleged IPS corruption and failed project
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Paraguay insured to protest over alleged IPS corruption and failed project

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Insured associations in Paraguay will demonstrate nationwide on August 25 to demand justice from the Public Ministry.
  • The protests follow the indictment of several officials and two former presidents of the Institute of Social Security (IPS) for alleged breach of trust.
  • The charges stem from a failed construction project for operating rooms, involving an investment of over 60 billion Paraguayan guaraníes.

Associations representing insured individuals of the Institute of Social Security (IPS) in Paraguay are organizing a nationwide demonstration on August 25. They aim to pressure the Public Ministry to pursue justice against officials and former presidents of IPS indicted for alleged breach of trust. The charges are linked to a failed construction project for operating rooms, which involved a significant investment of over 60 billion Paraguayan guaraníes.

During a press conference, representatives announced the coordinated protests across the country. Last week, the Public Ministry indicted former IPS presidents Vicente Battaglia and Jorge Brítez, along with other officials, and requested their pre-trial detention. The investigation focuses on a suspected criminal offense of breach of trust related to the unsuccessful construction of modular operating rooms at the IPS Central Hospital, a project initiated in 2020.

This is a protest to pressure the Prosecutor's Office, we want to avoid 'opareí', avoid people involved in corruption being whitewashed because they have a certain patron.

— Julio LópezJulio López, head of the Association of IPS Insured Members, explained the purpose of the upcoming demonstrations.

The National Coordinator of Active and Retired Insured Members of IPS, representing over 30 associations, is calling for the prosecution to secure convictions and the recovery of misappropriated funds. Gustavo Canatta, president of the Coordinator, also urged for the indictment of IPS Administration Council members who approved the flawed project.

We believe that the pressure from the insured is fundamental to achieve the recovery of the patrimonial damage.

— Julio LópezJulio López, head of the Association of IPS Insured Members, highlighted the importance of public pressure.

Julio López, head of the Association of IPS Insured Members, stated that the Asunción protest will take place in front of the State Attorney General's Office. Similar demonstrations are planned simultaneously in other parts of the country. "This is a protest to pressure the Prosecutor's Office, we want to avoid 'opareí' (everything disappearing), avoid people involved in corruption being whitewashed because they have a certain patron," López said, emphasizing the insured's role in recovering damages.

Bernabé Penayo, president of the Acción Sindical Clasista group, echoed the call for justice, punishment for the guilty, and the recovery of stolen IPS assets. The indictment specifically targets the failed construction and installation of a modular operating room, awarded in 2020, despite numerous amendments and substantial payments made during previous administrations.

We demand justice, punishment for the guilty, and the recovery of the stolen assets of IPS.

— Bernabé PenayoBernabé Penayo, president of the Acción Sindical Clasista group, voiced the protesters' demands.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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