The anti-drug minister Zully Rolón intends to restrict the media from publishing possible acts of corruption involving special agents that denote a striking growth in assets that is not in line with the salaries they receive. Likewise, she seeks to hold journalists accountable for violating laws that suit their convenience to curb the constitutional right to inform.
Source: The Nation
Media Nation Research Unit
In a questioned act of seeking to curtail the journalistic work of investigating alleged acts of corruption, the minister of the National Anti-drug Secretariat (Senad), Zully Graciela Rolón Esquivelthrough an institutional statement, made an arbitrary interpretation of the rule to urge not to disclose the identities of special agents who have had a striking wealth growth.
This occurs within the context in which the The journalistic team of La Nación Investiga is revealing a series of reports on luxuries held by some researchers and analysts who are part of the Sensitive Intelligence Unit (SIU) of the Senad.
The secretariat’s statement cites article 6 of Law 6677/2020, but only refers to the fact that the identities of the researchers may not be revealed, ignoring that it remarks that it must take place within the framework of an investigation.
“For reasons of strict personal and institutional security, the identity of the Special Agent who intervenes as an investigator or under the figure of Undercover Agent, within the framework of a judicial process, must be confidential and his statement presented only in writing before the jurisdictional authorities. Your identity data may only be requested and disclosed within the framework of Judicial Investigations with due protection.”, literally states article 6 of the Special Agent Law.
But, as if that were not enough, the minister Rolon, in his letter, seeks to obscure the role of press workers. “Therefore (the Senad) urges unrestricted compliance with the provision, adopting as a fundamental premise the protection of the Special Agent, considering that the consequences of organized crime can entail a risk to life when their personal data is revealed,” he remarks.
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At this point it is important to point out, first of all, that the privilege of confidentiality is not an endorsement for not being investigated, not only by Justice, but also by civil and citizen comptrollers; In addition, Article 6 is clear when referring to their actions must be confidential in a “judicial process”, and at this point we are talking about a journalistic investigation where the objects of suspicion are anti-drug officials.
Communiqué from the Senad where it intends to curtail journalistic publications on suspicious growth of assets of special agents and those assigned to wiretapping.
Secondly, within our justice system, the priority of the norms based on the Kelsen Pyramid governs, and it is established as follows: the Constitution of the Republic; followed by ratified international treaties, conventions and agreements; then the laws, decrees, regulations and ordinances.
At this point it is important to point out that it is of a constitutional nature and is above all law that citizens have the right to be informed, especially regarding the actions of their public officials. In addition, the Magna Carta in article 29 emphasizes that the freedom to exercise journalism is free and is not subject to prior authorization.
CONCEALMENT
The only thing the Senate does in this case is seek to stop the publications and defend the special agents suspected of at least an excessive increase in their assets when their salaries alone do not pay, and even more so considering that this occurs later. of mega-investigations against organized crime that were plagued by leaks, as was the case with A Ultranza Py.
Well, it is no less true that the Uruguayan cartel Sebastián Marset was warned of operations to intercept drug planes in the Chaco, of raids or ongoing investigations against its components.
Anti-drug sources pointed out yesterday that this whole series of revelations by La Nación Investiga has generated a tense atmosphere within the institution, and even more so within the SIU, since supposedly the minister of the Senad Zully Rolón had already been informed about the ostentation and luxuries of several that make up the team of investigators and analysts of wiretaps, and now that the pot has been uncovered, internal questions towards the administration arise even more.
REVEALED
La Nación Investiga revealed how Carlos Chamorro Portillo and his wife Natalia Berenicce Bareiro, both in SIU, with liquid income that until July 2022 did not reach G. 7 million, recently appeared in a high-end 0 km vehicle, they acquired important properties , which do not even appear on their sworn declarations of assets.
These people had a patrimonial increase of 700%, since when entering the Senad in 2015 they declared assets of G. 65 million, but in the last declaration the couple went on to register assets for G. 518 million.
In addition, another of those that also raised suspicions is the case of the Director of Departmental Operations, Abelino Valdez, who stated in his last affidavit of August 2022 properties that were and are in the name of Chamorro.
