In the midst of the confusion caused by the frustrated coup d’état of Pedro Castillothe then General Commander of the Army, Major General EP Walter Cordova Germanhe played his own game to try to stay in office.
As revealed by an investigation by La República, At 7 am on Wednesday, December 7, Córdova presented his letter of resignation to Castillo at the Government Palace. And at 11 am of the same day, the still Head of State signed Walter Córdova’s retirement pass and replaced him with EP Division General David Ojeda Parra. However, around 2 pm, Córdova reappeared as Commander in Chief of the Army, supporting the pronouncement of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces against the Castillo coup and later he was seen in Congress applauding the swearing in of President Dina Boluarte.
Córdova had resigned for “strictly personal reasons”, but he continued at the head of the Army until Tuesday, December 20. Thirteen days after her resignation, yesterday the president finally Dina Boluarte and the Defense Minister, Alberto Otárola, dismissed Walter Córdova and replaced him with EP Division General David Ojeda Parra.
This newspaper published investigative reports that showed that on Tuesday, December 6, the then Defense Minister, Gustavo Bobbio Rosas, asked him that, since President Castillo could not retire him, he should request his discharge. Bobbio made the request to Córdova because he was facing questions about his management that affected the image and institutionality of the Army. Córdova accepted and, together with Bobbio, met early on the morning of Wednesday the 7th with President Castillo at the Government Palace, as has been mentioned.
Commander General of the Army, Major General EP Walter Córdova Alemán.
The Republic repeatedly asked General Córdova for his version of what happened, but no response was obtained. However, sources close to Walter Córdova indicated that his continuity as Commander General of the Army was legitimate, because Pedro Castillo signed the resolution of his dismissal and the appointment of his replacement, General David Ojeda Parraafter the attempted coup. Therefore, the retirement pass was invalid, argued the sources linked to Córdova.
But the version was not true. So much so that his relatives circulated Córdova’s resignation letter on social networks, before Castillo’s coup speech. The publication of the resolution of the discharge of Córdova signed by the Head of State and Minister Otárola confirms this. The play did not work out for Córdova.
on a cold plate
With the appointment of Major General EP David Ojeda Parra as the new commanding general of the Army, in replacement of Major General EP Walter Córdova Alemán, the line of command of the armed institute is reestablished. Córdova was not destined for the top position.
On November 3, 2021, the then General Commander of the Army, Major General José Vizcarra Álvarez, he found out from the newspapers that the then president Pedro Castillo had dismissed him without any explanation, and replaced by General Walter Córdova. It was revenge.
As General Vizcarra himself would later recount, Castillo removed him from office because he refused to promote recommended officers who did not have the required merits.
But the most striking thing about the incident was that the former head of state appointed General Walter Córdova to replace General José Vizcarra. Vizcarra had delivered Pedro Castillo the list of generals who would retire that end of the year, and on that list was Walter Córdova.
New boss. General Commander EP David Ojeda Parra. Photo: diffusion
Instead of arranging his withdrawal for causal renewal of cadres, Castle Córdova was appointed commander-in-chief of the Army.
According to sources of the Republic in the Army, instead of appointing General David Ojeda Parra as appropriate in the General Command, the former president exchanged the loyalty of Walter Córdova for his appointment.
Despite the irregularities in Córdova’s management, and the discomfort of the officials due to the scandals, Castillo preferred to keep him in his post. But he was no longer able to defend him when former minister Bobbio asked him to resign for the sake of the Army’s integrity.
However, as soon as he found out that the Armed Forces would not support Castillo’s attempt, He returned to the office of the General Command of the Army to continue in office as if nothing had happened.
Doctorate in Education at La Cantuta University
Graduated in 1986, EP division general David Ojeda Parra is from the Infantry arm and belongs to the Heroes de San Pablo promotion.
Born in Cusco on November 20, 1963, Ojeda has been a military attache in China, director of the Leoncio Prado Military College and the Central Military Hospital.
He has a PhD in Educational Sciences from the Enrique Guzmán y Valle University. (La Cantuta) and a master’s degree in Administration from the ESAN University.
He has also held important positions, such as Commander of Intelligence and Special Operations, Commander General of the Eastern Military Region, Inspector General of the Army and Chief of General Staff.
Data
End of cycle. Division General (r) Walter Córdova was the last of his rank in the Héroes de Pucará 1985 class.
Closeness. Also part of this Army promotion was the biggest EP (r) Antauro Humala Tasso.
