Scandal in Montelíbano by video where councilors receive money - Other Cities - Colombia

The councilors of Montelíbano (Córdoba), Paul Duque, Manuel López and Anselmo Herrera spoke in relation to a video from the security cameras of the municipal council where they appear receiving money from Gabriel Street indicating that these are private businesses and that they have nothing to do with politics.

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They point out in a statement issued to the public that the video is from last February 17 and that it causes them concern and draws their attention that it is released a few days before an electoral process.

🚨#VIDEO The former mayor and councilor of Montelíbano (Córdoba), father of the current representative to the chamber of the Liberal party Andres Calle (who aspires again), was captured by the cameras of the municipal council distributing money to three councilors. For what is the money? pic.twitter.com/542hy5DLSS

– Laura Palomino (@C1Palomino) March 3, 2022

“We will not lend ourselves to malicious interpretations and with political interest,” they say in the statement.

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Gabriel Calles is a former mayor and former councilor of Montelíbano, father of Andrés Calle, representative to the chamber for the Liberal Party.

Renowned merchants

They indicate that in addition to being council members, they are well-known merchants, professionals and entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector of Montelibano and the region.

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“In addition to the public service, we develop other licit and legal economic activities. That day it was agreed to receive the pending payment for a value of 8 million pesos, from a sale of cattle, a business that is usually carried out in cash, ”they say.the councilors in the statement.

(Be sure to read: People returned to walk through the Historic Center of Cartagena without masks)

They affirm that everything was done without hiding anything, in front of the security cameras, in the presence of other councilors, employees and the public force itself, with all legality and transparency.

Francis Xavier Barrios
Special for WEATHER
sincelejo

Alert in Yumbo for threats to councilors and risks in elections - Cali - Colombia

In Yumbo, the alarm remains in the face of reports of threats against four members of opposition parties.

One of them is Alianza Verde, which has been the target of political violence in recent years in this industrial town in Valle del Cauca.

They are four councilors who fear for their lives and insist that the authorities implement a greater security device to preserve their integrity.

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They are opposition lobbyists William Henao, from Alianza Verde; Fernando David Murgueitio, from Cambio Radical; William Jaramillo, from MAIS, and Andrés Cruz, from ASI.

According to Alianza Verde, councilor William Henao “received anonymous threats on his WhatsApp account, related to his political control activities that he carries out as a member of the opposition caucus before the mayor’s office of that municipality, especially with the public denunciations by the (alleged) excessive number of contracts for the provision of services during electoral times”.

According to the party, they far exceed what happens in other mayors’ offices in larger municipalities in Valle del Cauca.

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The mayor of Yumbo, Jhon Jairo Santamaría, said that he accompanies the complaint so that the Prosecutor’s Office investigates.

“The function of the councilors is covered by justice, the law and the Political Constitution, therefore, I respect their function and their actions focused on the respective controls and complaints,” added the president.

Valley with risks due to violence and fraud in elections

In the Electoral Observation Mission (MOE) they worked on a map of electoral risks in Cali with members of the Awamuy research hotbed, from the Javeriana University.

The information threw risks due to fraud and violence in 24 polling stations in Cali, some in communes 13, 14 and 15 of Aguablanca. But they would be greater in 14. There would also be risks in commune 21, also in the east, and in 20, where Siloé is, on the hillside.

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Another municipality in the Valley with factors indicative of electoral fraud and factors of violence is Buga.

The Cairo municipality, in the north, has a medium risk of fraud in Chamber elections due to fraud, while Versailles, for Senate.

Municipalities at risk of violence, with a high and extreme risk index are Cali, Yumbo, Bolívar and Buenaventura. In this list of high risks, according to the EOM, Buga, Florida, Jamundí and Tuluá also appear.

For the regional coordinator of the EOM, Alejandro Sánchez, it is necessary that institutional efforts be concentrated in such a way that irregularities can be detected.

CALI

Two councilors imprisoned in Cartagena so far this year, but they did not resign - Other Cities - Colombia

In Cartagena there are two councilors captured in 2022. Among them the president of the corporation. One of those captured is convicted. However, none resigned. In both cases the figure of the empty chair is applied.

Is about Gloria Estrada, president of the councilcaptured last January 21, and this week, Cesar Pion. Both have measure of house by jail.

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Fees for more than 7 billion
of pesos to councilors and former councilors

This week a new ruling by the Superior Court of Cartagena was made known, which on this occasion sentenced the conservative councilor César Pion González and the former councilor Américo Mendoza Quessep to 48 months in house arrest, for the delivery of fees for more than 7 billion pesos, to councilors and former councillors, in March 2012, when the two public servants served as president and vice president of this corporation. Both were convicted of the crimes of prevarication by action,

“His conviction is not final,” replied the lawyer Enrique del Río, representative of the councilman PIón, who has the approval of the convicted person to challenge the judicial decision.

(In context: House by jail for president of the Council of Cartagena)

Statements on ruling issued by the court of Bolívar regarding an action that dates back to 2012

As a public person we are respectful of court rulings and will act based on the law to demonstrate the legality of our actions. pic.twitter.com/MaqzLWiy39

— Cesar Pion (@cesarpiong) February 2, 2022

With this ruling, the high court revoked the acquittal that had been issued in the first instance by the Fifth Criminal Court of the Circuit, which had exonerated the officials.

In the case of César Pión, an active councilor, he appealed the measure and therefore, according to the law, the figure of the empty seat is applied, and the official cannot, for now, be removed from his position.

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The sentence handed down in the second instance gives rise to the convicts going before the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice so that the ruling can be evaluated.
However, during the entire judicial process, for now, PIón González will not be removed from his duties.

Captured council president, has
‘right to be presumed innocent’

Gloria Estrada Benavides is now the center of controversy.

On January 21, a judge ordered house arrest for the president of the Cartagena Council, Gloria Estrada, captured when she was found in a van in which a kilo of cocaine, a firearm and 7,950,000 pesos were being transported.

The restrictive measure of freedom will be maintained while the trial against the official for the crimes of manufacture and possession of narcotics is carried out.

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According to the judge, the house arrest is given because Estrada has “the right to the presumption of his innocence, while a trial proves otherwise, especially the condition of chance mentioned by his defenders.”

In this case, the figure of the empty chair was also applied, and the vice president of the corporation occupies the position of Estrada, while the trial progresses.

Cartagena

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