Friday
Friday 11th April 2025.
April 10, 2025
During his official visit to Peru on Thursday, April 10, President José Raúl Mulino emphasized the importance of maintaining a stable and prudent relationship with the United States, following his recent meeting with the country’s Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth .
Mulino asserted that Panama cannot afford to project an image of confrontation with the United States , stating that “my country does not benefit from the image of a country in conflict with the United States, just as it does not benefit anyone in the democratic region.”
In this context, he emphasized that the recent memorandum of understanding signed between the Panamanian Ministry of Security and the U.S. Department of Defense does not compromise national sovereignty, as it excludes concepts such as permanent military presence, military bases, or the cession of territory.
“At least three or four versions of the memorandum were returned. We removed the concepts of permanent military presence, military bases, and the cession of territory, because that is unacceptable. And although my opponents may not believe it, some with specific influence and others without, beyond rhetoric and political opportunism, all these opinions, today, contrary to what was done, constitute a great strength for the government. And they don’t understand it,” he said.
During his speech at the Andean Parliament after receiving the Simón Bolívar Order, Mulino emphasized his commitment to defending sovereignty and reiterated that his duty as a leader is to act responsibly and with geopolitical sense, given the strategic role Panama plays globally. “The Canal is there to serve, nothing else… we must act with great prudence,” he stated.
The Foreign Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama sent a letter to the United States Embassy requesting an update to the joint statement in which the U.S. Department of Defense failed to recognize Panamanian sovereignty over the Panama Canal .
The Press was able to learn that the letter was sent on Wednesday, April 9, the last day of Pete Hegseth ‘s visit .
In the joint statement released by both nations on Tuesday night , April 8 , the Defense Ministry omitted the following sentence from the English version: “In addition, Secretary Hegseth recognized Panama’s leadership and inalienable sovereignty over the Panama Canal and its adjacent areas,” crucial amid repeated U.S. threats to “retake the Canal.”
The Government Commission of the National Assembly declared a recess this Thursday, April 10, until next Monday, to continue analyzing the controversial bill, the main purpose of which was to exonerate those convicted of money laundering in the Odebrecht, Blue Apple, and New Business cases.
Among the beneficiaries of this initiative was former President Ricardo Martinelli, who has been implicated in these corruption scandals. The proposal was presented by Jairo Bolota Salazar, a representative from the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), who defended its feasibility, but failed to garner the necessary support.
Furthermore, the initiative sought to exonerate those implicated in the Odebrecht case from all criminal liability , including those who have not yet been prosecuted, adding further controversy to the proposal. This bill would also include former President Juan Carlos Varela, who has been called to trial for his involvement in the Odebrecht case.
The Government Commission was headed by its president, Luis Eduardo Camacho, of the Realizing Goals (RM) party, who signed the proposal, followed by vice president Ariel Vallarino, also of RM, who also gave his support. However, not all members of the commission agreed. Francisco Brea, of the Panameñista Party, does not appear among the deputies who signed, nor do Crispiano Adames and Raúl Pineda , of the PRD, and Manuel Cheng and Roberto Zúñiga , of Vamos, who disassociated themselves from the initiative.
Furthermore, José Pérez Barboni of the Another Way Movement party also chose not to support the amnesty. Didiano Pinilla of Democratic Change was another signatory, reflecting the internal divisions within the commission and among the parties represented.
Two of those absent from the Government Commission session were Pineda and Pinilla.
The first debate began with Camacho’s proposal to omit the reading of the bill, but it was rejected with five votes against, one in favor, and one abstention. The floor was then given to the proponent of the initiative, Representative Salazar.
The Colon representative began by clarifying that the initiative does not come from his party, the PRD, but is a personal decision. “It’s my initiative, personally, and not from the Democratic Revolutionary Party. Let this be very clear,” he stated forcefully, emphasizing that his support for Martinelli stems from a friendship.
Salazar explained that his support for Martinelli isn’t conditioned by politics, but rather by a bond of loyalty forged in the past. “I’m a friend of Ricardo Martinelli. And he’s proven it to me over the past five years,” he noted, while emphasizing that it’s a true friendship, not a matter of political convenience.
Despite the stance, which could cause divisions within his own party, the PRD, Salazar expressed his willingness to face the consequences of his decision. “If this is going to cause me problems with my party, I will accept the consequences,” he said.
In fact, the PRD itself issued a statement distancing itself from both Salazar and the representatives who had sponsored this bill, pointing out that, according to the Constitution, each representative has the power to submit individual bills. “The amnesty bill was not presented by the PRD faction, nor does it respond to a collective party agenda,” the political party stated.
Once Salazar’s participation concluded, Camacho declared a recess to continue the discussion of the proposed law next Monday.
For Pérez Barboni, the fact that a recess was declared means that they didn’t have the votes and that the intention was to “buy time.” The deputy from the Another Way Movement pointed to the absence of key figures such as Didiano Pinilla and Raúl Pineda, suggesting that at that time they wouldn’t have enough votes to pass the first debate.
In his speech, he emphasized that the main problem lies in the fact that the bill’s proponent himself is establishing the crimes to be amnestied, which he considered a flagrant constitutional violation. “This is unconstitutional,” he stated, emphasizing that the action goes beyond a legal debate, touching on what he considers a serious distortion of the legal system.
This is the second attempt by the legislature to free the former president from the 128-month prison sentence imposed on him in the New Business case, related to the purchase of shares in Editora Panamá América, SA (Epasa) in 2010, when he was still President.
The draft bill consists of six articles—one of them added by hand—and, from the very first one, it clearly establishes its purpose: to grant a “general amnesty” to those sentenced or prosecuted in the New Business, Odebrecht, and Blue Apple cases.
Martinelli appears in all three cases: he was already convicted in the first and is facing trial in the other two, along with his sons, Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares, who are also implicated in the money laundering operations.
Article 1 makes it explicit: “A general amnesty is granted to persons convicted, prosecuted, or who may be prosecuted” in these three high-profile cases.
Phase two of Operation Dignity, led by the Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office, arrested 23 people, including members of a criminal network dedicated to car theft and sexual offenders, including a pastor who had three rape complaints.
During investigations conducted at various locations in Panama City, several individuals were located who were engaged in the distribution of pornographic material involving minors.
Several people were also arrested on charges of rape, firearms possession, and involvement in credit card fraud.
The Prosecutor’s Office also identified members of a criminal group involved in robberies committed against ride-hailing platform drivers and individuals with outstanding arrest warrants for various crimes.
It was reported that in these cases, the prosecutor’s office, together with the police, conducted intelligence and surveillance work to locate the individuals, some of whom had been wanted for several months.
Police also arrested three people in Arraiján, San Miguelito, and Curundú who were members of a criminal group dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering.
In the first phase of Operation Dignity, which took place on January 27, authorities arrested 53 people involved in robbery, fraud, distribution of child pornography, and rape of minors.
In this operation, a criminal group dedicated to bank fraud was detected, which had already accumulated more than $500,000.
On that occasion, several individuals implicated in money laundering offenses were also arrested. They received money from criminal activities and then introduced it into the local financial system.
Both operations were aimed at locating criminal cells operating in the metropolitan areas of Panama City and Colón, impacting small businesses and ordinary citizens.
A high seas warning remains in effect on Panama’s Pacific coast from April 8 to 12, 2025, the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) reported Tuesday, April 8.
According to the agency, the phenomenon will generate adverse maritime conditions that could cause damage, especially in beach areas and coastal communities.
Areas under surveillance
The areas under warning expect swells between 1.0 and 2.0 meters high, with periods of 15 to 20 seconds. Specific regions include:
- Eastern Pacific: Gulf and Bay of Panama.
- Central Pacific: South of Veraguas and Los Santos.
- Western Pacific: Gulf of Chiriquí.
According to the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA), ground swells are expected to reach the Panamanian coast beginning the night of April 9, moving from the South American Pacific.
This condition could raise the impact level to a moderate to strong intensity.
Given these conditions, authorities warn that it is unsafe to engage in recreational activities or boating in the Panamanian Pacific during this period.
Recommendations to the population
Security entities call for prevention and share the following measures:
- Follow the instructions of emergency services and take precautions if you are in coastal areas.
- Avoid water sports while the alert lasts.
- In the case of vessels, it is necessary to always notify the navigation route and report any incidents.
- Refrain from swimming at the beaches.