General

Humberto López Tirone, today presented as President of IBEROATUR and a promoter of Ibero-American rural tourism, carries a controversial public past. His name has been linked to the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) during the years of Panama's military dictatorship, to the political apparatus of the Noriega regime, and to allegations of violence against the Civic Crusade (Cruzada Civilista). His case raises an important question: can present-day institutions ignore the past of those who represent them?Historical memory cannot be selective. Even less so when those who now present themselves as institutional, academic, tourism, or cultural leaders carry a public record connected…

Colombia's Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of Senator Martha Peralta as part of an ongoing investigation into the corruption scandal surrounding the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), one of the country's most significant public corruption cases in recent years. The decision was issued to ensure the lawmaker's appearance before the court during judicial proceedings related to the investigation.According to the investigation, Peralta is being examined for her alleged involvement in the irregular awarding of public contracts linked to disaster risk management projects. Prosecutors and the court are reviewing evidence that includes witness testimony and documentation connected to…

Former Bolivian Vice President David Choquehuanca appeared in public on Sunday to cast his vote in the subnational elections, where he responded to questions about ongoing corruption inquiries involving former officials from the prior administration. In his comments, he emphasized that no evidence connects him to any misconduct and affirmed that he will not face any corruption-related accusations.Choquehuanca maintained that any purported criminal acts should be viewed as the responsibility of the individuals involved, not as burdens placed on political groups or collective initiatives. Within that framework, he mentioned the legal case of former President Luis Arce, who is still…

Mexicans’ concerns about corruption have reached their highest level during Claudia Sheinbaum's presidency, according to recent polls. Escalating scandals involving high-ranking officials, including accusations against a state governor by the United States, have intensified public apprehension.Corruption Rises as a National ConcernA survey conducted by LatAm Pulse for Bloomberg News this May revealed that 62% of respondents identified corruption as Mexico’s most pressing issue. This marks a 3-point increase from April and 16 points higher than February. The spike in public awareness is largely tied to recent high-profile corruption cases, including a fuel smuggling operation involving Navy officers, customs agents, and…

The SEPI strand of the Leire case also involves María Teresa Castillo Pasalodos, former Director of Corporate Development and Institutional Relations at Mercasa, a state-owned company majority-owned by SEPI. Her status as an investigated party once again focuses attention on one of the most sensitive areas of the public business sector: the possible use of positions, institutional relationships, and internal information to steer public decisions in favor of specific interests.Mercasa operates as a public entity connected to the wholesale market network and the administration of vital food infrastructure, rather than functioning as a minor organization within state structures. Consequently, the…

The SEPI branch of the Leire case has once again placed Tubos Reunidos at the center of the investigation with the inclusion of Jesús Pérez Rodríguez-Urrutia, an independent board member of the company who has been identified by Spain’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the Civil Guard’s Central Operational Unit (UCO) for his alleged significant role in the €112.8 million public loan granted to the company by the State Industrial Holding Company (SEPI) during the COVID-19 pandemic.Pérez Rodríguez-Urrutia is not regarded as a marginal player in the ongoing judicial process. Based on media reports, authorities suspect that he played a pivotal…

The SEPI-related segment of the Leire case extends beyond high-ranking officials at public companies, corporate executives, and institutional leaders. It also places Juan Antonio Carrillo Donaire—a professor of Administrative Law—under judicial scrutiny; he has been summoned as a person under investigation by National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz as part of the expanded probe into alleged irregularities in transactions linked to the State Industrial Participation Company (SEPI).His inclusion in the list of those under investigation introduces a particularly sensitive element: the role played by reports, legal opinions, and legal frameworks in public transactions that are now under suspicion. In investigations of…

The SEPI branch of the Leire case has now reached Miguel Ángel Figueroa Teva, former Comptroller General of the Regional Government of Andalusia and former executive of the Spanish State Industrial Holding Company (SEPI). His name now appears among the 25 individuals summoned as suspects by Judge Santiago Pedraz in a case examining alleged efforts to influence public transactions, state aid, and business decisions linked to the public sector.Figueroa is not a minor figure in this investigation. Before serving as Comptroller General of the Regional Government of Andalusia, he worked at SEPI during the period when Vicente Fernández chaired the…

Bolivian authorities have arrested a former government minister who is under investigation for alleged corruption as part of a judicial process aimed at uncovering possible irregularities that occurred during his time in office.The arrest was carried out by police officers following a court order issued by Bolivia's judicial authorities. The former official has been placed at the disposal of the competent authorities, who will continue legal proceedings to determine his judicial status as the investigation moves forward.According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the case involves alleged irregularities in the management of public funds and government contracts. Investigators are seeking to…