Last Wednesday, Congress' Subcommission on Constitutional Accusations recommended accusing Accion Popular (Popular Action party) parliamentarians
of alleged offenses, such as (being part of a) criminal organization and influence peddling.
They are accused of being members of the group called 'Los Niños' (The Children).
This came to light due to the statements given by the Prosecutor's Office cooperating witness Karelim Lopez, who indicated that ex-President Pedro Castillo had given that name to the parliamentarians with whom he used to make arrangements —conditional on them shielding him at Congress.
Here are some descriptions about the legislators who are accused in this case.
Raul Doroteo
In November 2022,
Raul Doroteo —an Ica region parliamentarian—
was sentenced to four years in prison for the crime of generic falsehood after having submitted false information, referring to his higher education, to the
National Elections Board (JNE) in 2013.
Concerning 'Los Niños' Case, it has been pointed out that Doroteo might have participated in the hiring of companies that won bids at Provías Nacional and the Migrations Office.
On the first issue, the parliamentarian is said to have met with a representative of the Chinese company CCECC, which was favored with four contracts. The legislator denies the accusations.
Darwin Espinoza
His current term in Parliament includes having presided over the Housing Commission.
It is in this context that, according to the complaint against him, this legislator would have participated in negotiations for the concession of certain (public) works, linked to the Ministries of Housing and Transportation-Communications —which he always denied.
Jorge Flores
Jorge Flores is an engineer and architect elected to represent southern Puno region at Congress.
In September 2021, journalist Liubomir Fernandez denounced that Flores wanted to give him money so that he would not interview another parliamentarian from the same jurisdiction.
Last January, Flores' house was attacked during protests against the current government.
At Parliament, Flores was Energy-Mines Commission chairman.
He is accused of alleged irregularities in the tender for the authorization of the Checca-Masocruz Highway in Puno —a process said to have been sped up after a meeting between the parliamentarian and former Transportation Minister Juan Silva. The latter is currently wanted by Peruvian justice.
Elvis Vergara
Elvis Vergara was elected Congressman representing the rainforest Ucayali region.
At Congress, he chaired the commission in charge of coordinating activities between Parliament and the National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (Devida).
He is accused of having received money from the Presidency of the Republic —when Pedro Castillo was President— that would come from alleged negotiations (in which former Minister Silva, plus businessmen Zamir Villaverde and Auner Vasquez had also participated) with the alleged aim of favoring Chinese construction companies.
The parliamentarian has denied those charges.