San Miguelito prepares new measures amid rising homicides and violence

San Miguelito, Panama, is grappling with a surge in violence and homicides, prompting local authorities to convene and devise urgent new measures. The district's mayor, Irma Hernández, met with representatives from the Ministry of Security, National Police, Public Ministry, Ministry of Government, peace and night judges, and the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and the Family (Senniaf) to address the escalating insecurity.

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The actors in charge of this, we are talking about the Public Ministry, Ministry of Government, with the Peace and night judges, Senniaf for the treatment of minors, the National Police, of course, the coordination of the Mayor's Office of San Miguelito, so all the details will be given by the competent authorities on Monday.

The planned actions, set to be officially announced on Monday, may involve mobility restrictions and other strategies aimed at curbing criminal activity. "The actors in charge of this, we are talking about the Public Ministry, Ministry of Government, with the Peace and night judges, Senniaf for the treatment of minors, the National Police, of course, the coordination of the Mayor's Office of San Miguelito, so all the details will be given by the competent authorities on Monday," the mayor stated.

Specific areas identified as high-impact zones include the corregimientos of Belisario Frías and Omar Torrijos. Óscar Gutiérrez, representative for Omar Torrijos, reported a significant increase in homicides, with 15 recorded by August 2026 compared to 11 throughout the entirety of 2025. "Homicides have increased compared to last year," he noted, highlighting a rise of approximately four deaths within eight months.

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Homicides have increased compared to last year.

The Municipal Council is collaborating with the National Police through a security committee to analyze violence indicators and pinpoint the underlying causes of the crime increase. The authorities emphasized that detailed plans will be presented Monday after inter-institutional coordination is finalized.

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In 2025, 11 homicides were registered during the entire year; this year, by August 2026, 15 homicides have been recorded, an increase of approximately four homicides in a period of eight months.