:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/AV5SNV2S23PLEX22PCDZG4RIBQ.jpg "Dina Boluarte will go to the National Prosecutor's Office today, Tuesday March 7 1")
The president of the Republic, To Boluarteis summoned for the morning of this Tuesday, February 7, to testify before the national prosecutor’s office, at its headquarters located in the Center of Lima. This summons is made within the framework of the investigations which reach him for the presumed crimes of “genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries”.
As you remember, since Pedro Castillo was released and Boluarte assumed the presidency during the first week of December, the country experienced an escalation of social conflict. In this context, more than 50 deaths have been reported in clashes between citizens and law enforcement and the level of conflict has been higher in the southern regions, such as Puno, Arequipa and Ica.
It was January 10 when the Public minister ordered to open a preliminary investigation into Dina Boluarte. He is in charge of the office of the national prosecutor, Patricia Benavides.
These surveys also include current and former members of his cabinet. It is Alberto Otarolacurrent President of the Council of Ministers and former Minister of Defence; Pedro Anguloformer boss of the PCM; Jorge Chávez Crest, current Minister of Defence; and Víctor Rojas and César Cervantes, former interior ministers.
The first time boluarte was summoned to testify in person was scheduled for January 30. However, the President indicated that she preferred to do it virtually. According to the Palacio version, this request never received a response.
The next schedule was for February 23. Once again, the Presidency has requested a change in the method of collecting statements. This request was “based on the security risks and the social unrest that their assistance to the prosecution could generate”, they explained, but as of February 25, they have not responded to this request either.
“The President of the Republic does not hesitate and does not delay in making statements (…) She is waiting for a response to exercise her right to defense and make statements within the framework of the guarantees of due process and the prerogatives protected by law and the Constitution”, communicated the presidency via Twitter.
Last weekend, however, the lawyer Kelly Montenegroas part of the legal defense of To Boluarteconfirmed that the presidency will attend the appointment respecting the modality in person.
“If the prosecution so orders, we will comply with everything that the Public Prosecutor has (…) (we are) 100% satisfied with what the competent authority has, which in this case is the nation’s prosecutor. There was never any intention to want to, let’s say, obstruct or hinder the work being done by the National Prosecutor’s Office. Ever,” Montenegro told El Comercio this Saturday, March 4.
It should be noted that, in connection with these investigations, weeks ago he already stated Alberto Otarolacurrent President of the Council of Ministers and former Minister of Defence.
For its part, Jose Tello, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, recently underlined that Boluarte had had no major inconvenience in testifying, except for the modality. And he added that respect for the investiture must be regained.
“It’s not that she doesn’t want to go to the prosecutor’s office, she’s ready to give her statements virtually. You have to respect the president in her decision, you have to give back to the presidential personality that attitude of respect,” Tello said.