The coordinator of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime (Feccor), Jorge Chavez Cotrina, regretted that, at present, an adequate budget is not provided to investigate and combat entrenched crimes in all sectors of the country. In statements to La República, he questioned the smear campaign against the nation’s attorney, Patricia Benavidezas a result of the investigations against the President peter castle.
-What is the situation that the Public Ministry is going through?
– Nobody likes to be investigated, but there is a smear campaign against the Public Ministry and, above all, against the nation’s prosecutor, Patricia Benavides. That’s not all: we suffered a budget cut in 2022 that limits the work on investigations.
—Is the budget cut due to the investigations against Pedro Castillo?
—The budget cut influences the entire Public Ministry. All specialized prosecutors in the country have their investigations. From the hiring of personnel to the purchase of goods to fulfill the objective of objectively investigating the cases.
—But do the investigations against the president influence?
-For this year 2022 they cut us something of 100 million soles. It is clear that the Executive Branch (Pedro Castillo) allocates the budget, but it is discussed in Congress (Budget Commission).
—How to guarantee a good job with this cut?
—Whoever works in the Public Ministry must face all the obstacles (…). Only a correct investigation should be preserved.
—The Prosecutor’s Office investigates the president, ministers and officials. How to deal with this situation?
—The nation’s prosecutor (Patricia Benavides) has been showing that her hand does not tremble to investigate someone, even the president himself. You have to trust the Public Ministry, we only seek a correct investigation without violating the rights of citizens.
-What do you expect for the year 2023?
—There has been talks with the Congress of the Republic; in this case, the nation’s prosecutor is already exposing the need for our institution (…). You have to invest in justice.
-What is the message to the public?
—We investigate, whoever falls, whoever it is and wherever it comes from. They cannot pressure us because they are civil servants. We are going to follow that guideline, whether they are officials or not.
