on Wednesday reiterated before Congress' Oversight Commission that he has not lied to the nation.
He added there is a destabilizing attempt toward the country, with events being maliciously distorted for purposes unrelated to their true nature.
"What is clear and evident is that there is an intent—one that investigations will no doubt determine—on the part of those seeking to generate instability and disrupt an electoral process that is currently underway and must be impartial and transparent," he said.
The top official told the commission that on December 26 he went to dine at the restaurant of a Chinese citizen, accompanied by the Interior minister and members of his security staff, in what he described as a "private and unofficial" setting.
He said that during the dinner, which was not planned, there was a chance encounter with the chifa restaurant owner.
"There has been an attempt to distort an ordinary activity that I occasionally carry out, after my daily duties, by portraying it as involving irregular or unlawful acts. I want to be very clear on this point, Mr. Chairman, and through you I say that I have not lied to the country," Jeri stated.
"I reiterate that there was no irregular content and no unlawful content in the meeting, but rather a chance conversation in which, Mr. Chairman, the topic of Peru-China Friendship Day—scheduled for February 1 of this year—was discussed," he added.
The President said he also visited the chifa on the evening of December 3 with his security staff and work team, and again on December 9 following a protocol event.
Regarding his visit to the market owned by the Chinese citizen in question, the Head of State said that on December 6 he visited the businessman to buy various items, such as candies and paintings, calling them "normal activities that people carry out regardless of their position."
"From the first day I took on this responsibility, I said: I won't be a traditional president; I will be a president who remains the same and is not boxed in by labels. That strength—which was always mine during my four years of parliamentary service—they have sought to use against me," he expressed.
Before lawmakers, President Jeri acknowledged that the way he entered the restaurant was a mistake, a situation he admitted publicly and for which he reiterated his apology to the citizenry.
"Here you have an objective and impartial president who does not yield to pressure," Jeri said, adding that he had requested to appear before the commission to tell his side of the story and to help clarify the facts.
The Oversight Commission's extraordinary session continued with statements from lawmakers.
Following remarks by lawmakers, the Head of State announced that on Thursday he will present official figures on the fight against insecurity, stressing that he is a person who keeps his word and that he has been committed to this task since the start of his administration.