Peruvian Attorney General Juan Carlos Villena on Friday announced that he will request the reinstatement of the police special team that works in support of the Special Team of Prosecutors against Corruption of Power (Eficcop).
Regarding these events, he said the Attorney General's Office under his charge has been evaluating the measures that must be adopted, in accordance with constitutional powers.
"For now, we demand that the special police team supporting Eficcop be immediately reinstated," he stated.
The magistrate indicated that the Public Ministry/Attorney General's Office takes objective professional actions, characterized by the observance of law and due process, but above all in a determined and brave manner.
"Citizens should have no doubt that Public Ministry prosecutors will defend legality in all instances (…)," he said.
Last Thursday,
the Interior Ministry revoked the ministerial resolution that creates the special police team in support of Eficcop, saying that it has duplication of functions with the High Complexity Crime Investigation Division (Diviac).
In Peru, the Public Ministry is independent from the Executive Branch.
During his speech at the ceremony for Prosecutor's Day, Villena voiced his support for Superior Prosecutor Marita Barreto, chief of Eficcop.
"These types of measures will not fulfill their objective because we —prosecutors, especially the Eficcop prosecutors, led by their coordinator, Superior Prosecutor Marita Barreto— are not going to stop fulfilling our duty to prosecute corruption crimes by those in power. That is why, from here, we give them our support," he underscored.
The magistrate said these events might not only seek to hinder the investigations conducted by Eficcop but could also affect the investigations being carried out by the Attorney General's Office Illicit Enrichment and Constitutional Complaints Section.
(END) FHG/CVC/MVB
Published: 5/10/2024