Paraguay opposition alleges cover-up to protect Comptroller General

Opposition congressman Adrián Vaesken has accused the ruling party's leadership in Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies of obstructing efforts to summon Comptroller General Camilo Benítez for questioning. Vaesken, a member of the PLRA and the Frente Radical, has been seeking for two weeks to have Benítez invited to the Accounts and Control commission to address concerns regarding his office's recent actions.

Vaesken alleges that César Cerini, the cartista president of the Accounts and Control commission, is deliberately delaying the invitation, effectively shielding Benítez. This move comes shortly after the Comptroller's office reportedly approved royalty payments for the municipality of J. Augusto Saldivar, an action Vaesken claims contravenes regulations. Specifically, he points to a law prohibiting the restoration of royalties if opposition council members' diets remain unpaid.

"We want to know why the Comptroller authorized royalties to the municipality of J. Augusto Saldívar in contravention of what is established by its Organic Charter and the law that prohibits restoring royalties if the council members are not paid their diets, to the council members who are in opposition," Vaesken stated. He emphasized that this request predates the Comptroller's controversial "correspondence examination" that cleared President Santiago Peña, suggesting a pattern of questionable oversight.

Despite Vaesken's persistent efforts, including forcing the issue onto the commission's agenda after it was initially omitted, no firm date has been set for Benítez's appearance. Cerini has reportedly not responded to inquiries from ABC Color regarding the delay. Meanwhile, a separate request for information from the Comptroller General's Office concerning President Peña's assets is also pending before the Chamber of Deputies.

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We want to know why the Comptroller authorized royalties to the municipality of J. Augusto Saldívar in contravention of what is established by its Organic Charter and the law that prohibits restoring royalties if the council members are not paid their diets, to the council members who are in opposition.