He President Gustavo Petro On Saturday he asked the country for forgiveness for the corruption scandal in the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD)an organization that is in the eye of the storm due to the embezzlement of millions of dollars that affects several members of the Government.
“I want to begin by asking for forgiveness, from you as representatives of the people and from the people of Colombia, for what has happened at UNGRD.“, said Petro at the installation of the new session of Congress on the occasion of the Independence Day.
In his speech before Congress, Petro said that what happened at UNGRD, the agency responsible for dealing with emergencies caused by natural disasters, leaves “Lessons to be learned from these events still need to be investigated.“.
(Can read: The opposition’s harsh response to Petro’s speech at the opening of Congress).
The scandal at UNGRD came to light last February when local media They revealed the alleged embezzlement of 46.8 billion pesos (about 11.7 million dollars) in the purchase of 40 tanker trucks to bring drinking water to desert areas of the Caribbean department of La Guajira.
At the center of the scandal is Olmedo Lopeza left-wing activist appointed by Petro in April 2023 to lead the UNGRD, a position he held until February of this year, when he resigned harassed by allegations of corruption in that organization.
(Further: ‘Clinging to producing fossil fuels would be suicide for the economy’: Petro).
Both Lopez and the one who was the Deputy Director of Disaster Management at UNGRD, Sneyder Pinillahave revealed to the Prosecutor’s Office the press has already reported that the corruption network involved the Until this Saturday, the presidents of the Senate, Iván Name, from the Green Alliance party, and of the House of Representatives, Andrés Calle.
Olmedo López, former director of UNGRD
Cesar Melgarejo / THE TIME
According to Pinilla, the two politicians received million-dollar bribes to achieve approval in Congress of the social reforms presented by the Government, and also It affected several ministers and other officials.
Last week, local media revealed that both López and Pinilla also revealed to the Prosecutor’s Office that the following are also involved in this corruption case: Minister of Finance, Ricardo Bonillawho signed a resolution with which that portfolio disbursed 700 billion pesos (about 175 million dollars) to UNGRD.
(Can read: ‘This new legislature is really important for the economic development of the country’).
They have also pointed out that the guerrillas of National Liberation Army (ELN) also benefited from government contracts in the department of Arauca.
Admission of guilt
Although Petro has staunchly defended his Finance Minister and denied that UNGRD contracts have financed the ELN, He acknowledged that there is corruption in his government.
“Olmedo has been on the left for decades, which makes us think that the issue of corruption is not an ideological issue, there is no ideological barrier that divides between forces that are not corrupt and others that are.“, he said.
(Besides: President Petro’s position on his minister implicated in the UNGRD scandal).
For this reason, the president pointed out: “I have to apologize because I was the one who put it there (at UNGRD) and that is why there is political responsibility and I have to assume it.“.
According to Petro, “Corruption in Colombia is a culture that permeates everything, it is among the richest, and also among the poorest, among those who have the most responsibilities and those who do not.“.
(Can read: Court overturns key article of agrarian reform: what did the Ministry of Agriculture say about it?).
“I did not expect from Olmedo an attitude like the one we have found“, said the president, adding: “That a man degrades himself in that way is terrible“Well, many of his friends on the left”They died in their efforts to save Colombia” in the past.
In his speech at the opening of the new session of Congress, Petro has focused on the country’s economy, peace and social problems.
EFE
