Kelly Portaladino May Be Investigated by Ethics Commission: Consequences of Hiring His Relatives in Congress | principle

Kelly Portalatino, a member of Congress from Peru Libre and former health minister in the Pedro Castillo government, is once again the protagonist of a controversy and may at least be investigated by the Ethics Commission. This is after “Punto Final” revealed on Sunday, February 4 that two of his relatives were employed in Parliament.

The President of the Ethics Commission, Diego Bazan (Avanza Pais), requested from senior congressional official Giovanni Forno information on the date, office and copy of the contracts of Rommy Vasquez Yanez and Cindy Rios Chichi.

In addition, legislators from six groups asked for a committee to investigate Portalatino, while criminal lawyers consulted by El Comercio warn of potential crimes.

Rommy Vasquez Yanez is the stepfather of Christian Rizzo Portalatino (the congresswoman's half-brother). Cindy Rios Chichi He is identified as living with Anderson Portalatino Avalos (brother of the legislator).

The first has been working in the International Cooperation Office of the Parliament since April 2023 with a salary of S/ 4,270. In addition, he served in the Ministry of Health in November 2022, according to the Sunday program, during the government of Pedro Castillo, when Portalatino was head of that portfolio.

Rios, meanwhile, has been working at the Congressional Communications Office since last October at a salary of S/3,951.

Read more | Partners of Illegal Mining: Plans to Expose Connections in Congress | Report

This is the letter Diego Bazan sent to the mayor's office:

When consulted by “Punto Final”, Portalatino pointed out that Ríos and his brother no longer have a romantic relationship. Also, he has denied relationship with two women. “When I have an ongoing relationship with them, you can criticize me. There I may be criticized and questioned.said.

On the morning of this Monday, February 5, the member of the Pencil committee again denied his relationship with the workers and said that the nepotism law only prohibits relatives from serving in his office or in the commissions he chairs.

“Regarding the serious statement made by Punto Final yesterday, I must point out that the people mentioned there have no parental relationship with me. by consanguinity or political family” He wrote on the social network X (formerly Twitter).

“Similarly, the prohibition is to employ relatives in my office, or the commission I chair; However, this is not the case. According to the Nepotism Act, it does not apply merely because there is no family tie or tie.” He noted.

Read more | They file a constitutional complaint against Martin Vizcarra in the Untouchables scam case

They are asking for an investigation

In a conversation with El Comercio, congressmen Alejandro Aquinaga (Fuerza Popular), Norma Yaro (Avanza País), Hector Waller (Somos Peru), Edgar Tello (Bloc Magisterial), Elva Julón (Alianza para el Progreso) and Jorge Montoya said the case was officially filed by the Commission on Ethics. It demanded an inquiry.

Aguinaga pointed out that even though blood ties were not the issue, the connection would be obvious. According to him, the case should be evaluated by a committee led by Diego Bazan (Avanza Pais). He emphasized that responsibility also lay with the official who executed the contract for Portalatino's relatives.

“Perhaps you can argue that there is no incest, but the relationship issue complicates the situation.” said.

“They do not fully understand that government administration is not a source of employment for relatives. “There are two parts: who makes the proposal and who implements it.” he added.

Read more | New 'Casolinazo' now in Pentaconito: What are the alleged crimes? And what actions are being taken?

For his part, Valer deemed it “appropriate” that Portladino be “investigated” by the Ethics Commission, as are all members of Congress who have been reported for alleged misconduct.

“It is necessary to prove what the journal says, obviously there will be no direct familiarity. “This should be investigated in ethics.” He insisted.

Meanwhile, Yaro also believed the case deserved an ethics hearing, but doubted the case would prosper. “She's a half brother, not blood related but she's a half brother's stepdaughter. Her half brother is related to her. “That's called parliamentary etiquette, maybe the rules don't say that.” He insisted.

However, the Avanza País legislator indicated that he has high hopes that the prosecutor's office will investigate the case, as the ethics commission protects several congressmen.

“The truth is, I have lost faith in the Ethics Commission […] “They're going to save her on ethics, they saved the mocassaltos, unfortunately they're votes and they all have straw tails.” expresses.

“He has been the health minister, who else could have been appointed there. I think you should do a tax investigation […] Constitutional condemnation will take five or six months”, He finished.

Read more | The government appointed Alfredo Ferrero and Carlos Haganson as ambassadors to the United States and Costa Rica, respectively.

In turn, Julon said, “If there is a complaint, you should always investigate and cooperate with the relevant authorities.” Tello replied: “If there is such a presumption, it is cause for investigation.”

Montoya expressed a similar position. “[Portalatino] “It should be investigated ethically first.”

Read more | Political Memory: The Shocking Story of Two Peruvian Legislators Who Died in the Middle of a Meeting

Possible offences

Criminal lawyer Andy Carrion compared the complaint to the case of Betsy Chavez and the employment of relatives at various government agencies, including relatives of her romantic partner, Abel Sotelo..

Carrion recalled that Chavez was being investigated for influence peddling as a result of the alleged deals. “In this case it could be reflected because Portalatino would have had an impact [en la contratación de sus parientes]”, he pointed out.

Likewise, he asserted that his family ties to Congress workers “will be taken as a sign of influence in favor of these people, which could be linked to possible criminality.”

“The alleged crime of collusion may also be established because it is unlawfully agreeing with a favored party to finalize a contract with the government related to public standing. “I lean more towards the crime of influence peddling.” He finished.

Read more | Pedro Castillo: Minute by Minute Before, During and After the Coup, Prosecutor Alleges

Attorney Jefferson Moreno had a different take. While he doesn't rule out influence peddling, he thinks the case warrants a trial for the crime of improper negotiation.

“There is an option for non-conforming negotiation, which is when an official is interested in a contract process in the state in favor of an individual. […] “You only need to review records of visits, calls, and testimony to show that Kelly was interested in hiring Portalatino people.” said.

In his opinion, in the case of a possible crime of influence, “a more complicated path can be followed, because statements must be obtained from family members and the authorities who employed them.”

Read more | The final report recommends impeachment of JNJ members for constitutional violation

Background

After being appointed Minister of Health in the administration of Pedro Castillo, Ankash Kelly Portalatino (Per Libre) was questioned by Congresswoman. Initially, his lack of experience to be in charge of the department was criticized and his appointment was part of the Ceronista quota, and later the appointments he made in said portfolio were questioned.

For example, Portalatino appointed Loli Wider Herrera Lavado, a lawyer associated with fugitive Vladimir Ceron, as secretary general of its department. Later, he appointed Gianpier Lévis Guevara Valenzuela, a member of Peru Libre who had started working in the field during the administration of Hernán Candorí, as team leader at the F-3 level of his office.

The congresswoman from Peru Libre was also in the eye of the storm in February 2022, declaring that “if there are warranted circumstances”, the head of state (at the time Pedro Castillo) should dissolve Congress.

A few months later, the Popular Action Congress, a union called 'The Children', claimed asylum.

Portalatino's attitude was again called into question for filing a criminal complaint against journalist William Torres Carrasco, who asked him questions about a report in the middle of a public hearing.

As described in the text, the events took place on December 20, 2023, when Torres Carrasco, host of the program “Ultima Palabra” on Somos Television in Simpot, Santa province, asked him questions about a report broadcast on “Villax”. He was involved with his father and his partner in recruiting jobs in Ankash Regional Government.

Torres Carrasco was declared guilty of “violence against authority, violence against elected authority and disruption of order in a place where authority operates” at the start of the preliminary investigation against him on January 11 of this year. function. ”.

The Institute of Press and Society (IPYS) expressed its concern over the alleged crime. Meanwhile, Peru's National Association of Journalists (ANP) expressed its solidarity with the journalist and considers that this preliminary investigation sets a disastrous precedent for journalistic activity.