The Ministry of National Defense suspended on Thursday the bidding process for the acquisition of “tactical backpacks” for a total of US$130,000, in which the US company Vertical Skies participated. This company, based in Miami, Florida, USA, is led by two retired Uruguayan soldiers, one of whom would have contacted the former presidential custodian, Alejandro Astesiano, to obtain personal information from the Frente Amplista senators, Charles Carrera and Mario Bergara.
“Let’s see, the information I need from them is all personal. Since they want to tie them up so that they withdraw the complaint, ”the company manager wrote to Astesiano on WhatsApp at the time.
Regarding the suspension of the tender, the Minister of National Defense, Javier García, stated at a press conference: “It seemed to me the most prudent thing to do insofar as there is a judicial investigation, without prejudgment, but also prudently.”
For his part, Senator Carrera called for an investigation into who these retired Uruguayan soldiers are. The Broad Front called an extraordinary session on Thursday to address the issue of alleged spying on the two legislators, but the multicolored coalition tried to boycott it.
In other information revealed by the press, it is stated that the former head of security for President Luis Lacalle Pou acted as an intermediary between Vertical Skies and the armed forces to sell them military equipment and weapons.
