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Peru: President appoints new Police general commander

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Republic

21:18 | Lima, Nov. 23.

The President of the Republic Francisco Sagasti Hochhausler on Monday night announced the designation of Cesar Augusto Cervantes Cardenas as the new General Commander of the National Police of Peru (PNP).

In a televised Address to the Nation, the Head of State said that a base commission will be created, so that —within a period of 60 days— measures are enacted to modernize and strengthen the police sector.

Within this framework, the Commander-in-Chief assured that civilian managers from the State-run National Civil Service Authority (Servir) will join the initiative to collaborate with the police institution.

"In my capacity as President of the Republic, as well as Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces and the National Police, in use of the constitutional powers conferred in Article 167 of the Constitution, I have adopted the decision to appoint General Cesar Augusto Cervantes Cardenas as the new General Commander of the National Police," he expressed.

The top official indicated that this constitutional decision was made within the framework established in Article 8 of Legislative Decree No. 1267, which establishes the procedure for the appointment of the police general commander.

Likewise, the statesman specified that the base commission in charge of issuing recommendations for the modernization of the National Police of Peru will be led by the Interior minister, as well as see the participation of civil society and the police institution itself.

"I want to reiterate my deep regret for the events that occurred in the civil mobilizations, in which two young people lost their lives; other citizens were injured, some of them seriously; and others were affected in their dignity during their detentions," he emphasized.

Lastly, the Peruvian leader informed that the Comptroller General's Office will be requested to conduct concurrent control of the administrative work carried out at the police institution.

The Address to the Nation was broadcast from the Government Palace in Lima.

As is known,

two young men died as a result of pellet shots to their bodies during the protests held in Lima on November 14. In addition, there were several injured people.

The first fatality was 22-year-old Jack Bryan Pintado Sanchez, who suffered gunshot wounds.

The second one, Inti Sotelo Camargo —aged 24 years— was admitted to a hospital with gunshot wounds to the chest at heart level.

It must be noted that those demonstrations prompted the resignation of former President Manuel Merino on November 15.

Two days later, Francisco Sagasti Hochhausler was sworn in as President of the Republic and appointed a new Cabinet led by Prime Minister Bermudez.