‘They told me the money was used to cover campaign expenses for Magaly Ruiz’: former congressman

Carlos Marina Puscanformer worker of Congress of the Republic and allegedly arbitrarily fired for denouncing the drop in his salary, he explained that the “contributions” which were asked of them were to cover the expenses incurred in the campaign of the deputy of Alliance for Progress (APP), magaly ruiz.

“In one of the meetings, at the beginning of July (last year), the same adviser (senior to the deputy Ruiz), Mr. Jhonny Romero Nima, told me in a closed room, that the money (which m was requested as a contribution from my salary) is used for personal purposes to cover the MP’s campaign expenses magaly ruiz“, he revealed in dialogue with RPP on Monday.

Marina Puscan He said he had started working in the Multi-Party Special Commission for Child Protection, but was conditional on a monthly payment of S1,500/s. He specified that this sum was requested to “create a petty cash”, in a context where this commission was doing social work for children in vulnerable situations.

“On paper it looked like my salary S/2,200 soles, approximately, plus the snack bonus which is valued at approximately S/2,000 soles, i.e. I received something S /4,200 net from Congress,” he explained.

This contribution amount, equivalent to more than a third of his salary, was collected by Johnny Romero Nima, main adviser to congresswoman Ruiz, in the days following the payment of remuneration. Likewise, there was a pre-established payment system.

“(Romero Nima) was approaching payment days, a day or two later, to reiterate that payment be made in a closed and sealed envelope and inside a locked office or environment, where we We were prevented from entering with electronic equipment, equipment or pens or papers, even with the glasses that I use constantly, ”explained Marina Puscan.

Two months after starting to pay these contributions, one day, Marina Puscan asked for this “petty cash” to be made available, since they were going to visit the Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen National Hospital as part of a charity action (delivery of blankets, food, etc.). However, they told him that “there is no petty cash”.

“I request (in March last year) the petty cash from the councilors of the commission so that with this money the purchases of the necessary tools can be made. And they say to me: ‘sir, there is no petty cash’. I asked them, ‘so where does my money that I contribute go? They are S/1,500 per month, they are S/3,000 (what I gave)”. And they tell me, ‘this money is being used for other purposes,’” he said. After insisting in the following months and with some suspicion, he was told that the destination of said fund was to cover the expenses of the campaign of the deputy magaly ruiz.

Carlos Marina Puscan He added that as soon as this event happened, he tried to speak with Deputy Ruiz. Added to this was the fact that Marina Puscan, in her capacity as the commission’s press officer, was the link with the media, who were also wary of similar cases.

“(In her office, did MP Magaly do the same with other employees?) Apparently, yes. I said to him, “Congressman, this is happening, the media suspects your employees are being charged. And she always told me: ‘no, that doesn’t happen’. He always denied it to me,” he said.

Marina Puscan indicated that at another time, in early July 2022, he complained to the councilor Johnny Romero Nima. He denied that salaries were being cut and that what was happening was a “voluntary contribution”.

“And I said to him, ‘but if it’s voluntary, then why are you forcing me to pay? I don’t want to pay because I don’t see this money (petty cash). Then he said to me, ‘well, at any time, we can re-staff if you don’t agree to continue doing this number.’ I told him that it was perfect and that if the work conditioned me, I categorically refused (to continue contributing), ”he added.

Along with this conversation, Marina Puscan began a 21-day period of health leave. However, when he returned, they told him he had “stopped”. He tried to consult the member, but she gave him no answer.

“Until today, I’m still waiting for the reason (why I was fired). Why was I fired if I was working even while I was on sick leave? (…) J I asked the MP to explain (this situation) to me, but she never gave me a face, she didn’t answer my calls,” he said.

Finally, Marina Puscan presented, at the beginning of February of this year, her complaint for arbitrary dismissal before the office of the mayor of Congress. The case is currently before the Ethics Commission, a working table from which MP Magaly Ruiz was removed.