In an unusual public event, in the middle of a military ceremony, the general commander of the Artillery Group, Colonel Francisco Bolognesi, brigadier general EP Victor Canales Rosasaddressed the soldiers and officers urging them to “Do not stain your hands with the blood of the innocent or with the virus of corruption.”. The recording of the speech at the Arequipa barracks, on December 20, 2024, was widely circulated in the press and social networks. It had been three decades since a high-ranking Army officer had issued a statement that questioned the authorities of the Government or the armed institute.
Military sources indicated that General Víctor Canales spoke this way because he had been retired and disagreed with the decision. “Breathe through the wound,” they said. Canales expressed that this was not the case.
Asked if the reference to the “blood of the innocent” referred to the death of 10 civilians at the hands of Army troops during the anti-government demonstrations on December 15, 2022, General Víctor Canales responded: “That’s right, not only ( I am referring to those deaths, which are regrettable, but also to the deaths that subsequently occurred in January in other parts of the country, such as Puno. And not only civilians, but also soldiers, police. “All the deaths are regrettable,” he told The Republic
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For General Canales, the responsibility for these facts that are the subject of a tax investigation reach the head of state, Dina Boluartewhich acted as the first link in the chain of command. Without any doubt.
“I can say that it should not have happened. That is why I mention that there was a poor design of the strategy, but from the highest level. When I mention the highest level, I am referring, in this case, to Mrs. Dina Boluarte, who is the supreme head of the Armed Forces. From there the order is born, and the order has to be issued well so that it reaches the last soldier, which is the tactical level, and the mission can be accomplished,” he stated.
The chain of command
“She (Boluarte) is responsible, as supreme head of the Armed Forces, and as president of the Republic, for everything that happens and does not happen, for everything bad that happens to each Peruvian man and woman, and for everything well, too,” he highlighted.
“So, do you have to assume the consequences of what happened?” he was asked.
“Legal and policies. You have to assume. And justice has to do its job. AND The Peruvian people, as part of their citizen control, have to demand justicebecause we are living in a scenario where there is no longer justice, not even injustice, what exists is counter-justice,” explained retired general Víctor Canales.
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The Army officer also responded to his allusion to the “virus of corruption” within the military institution.
“Have you witnessed cases of corruption within the military institution?” he was told.
“I have been a victim, I have been a witness, I have been a complainant, I have done what I had to do according to my military condition,” he answered.
“Do you believe that there is a military leadership that has preferred to align itself with the Government led by President Dina Boluarte?” he was asked.
“It is a very sensitive question. Which Yes, they exist, they are bad elements within my institution.and perhaps in other armed institutions, as well as in other State institutions. Or also in the private part, in the private sector. Both in public and private administration. Yes, there are bad elements and this is evident. And many of them have many open tax folders. However, they continue to progress in their military careers, have high ranks and occupy strategic decision-making positions,” argued General Canales.
In an appeal that he has addressed to President Boluarte against the supreme resolution that provides for his retirement due to the reason for the renewal of cadres, the general Víctor Canales suggests that he qualified and had sufficient merits to continue his military careerand indicated that the Army high command does not indicate any motivation to discharge him. Despite the fact that other general officers with open cases not only remain in the military institute, but have been appointed to important positions within the military leadership.
This type of practice of retiring the best officers and rewarding the “loyal” ones is reminiscent of the regime of the 90s, as even recorded in videos.
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Old practices, bad practices
“Definitely, there is favoritism, a false loyalty, a false spirit of the body. (But) not from the entire Army, but from a small group who currently have important positions, relevant military ranks, and who use these tools. Logically, they are outside the law to achieve their very personal objectives. Suddenly, we even set up certain criminal networks,” agreed General Víctor Canales.
The new Chief of the Army Staff, Major General EP Oswaldo Calle Talledo, who just took office this year, was one of the high-ranking officers appointed by General Canales.
“He General Calle Talledo has tax processes underway. It seems to me that when he served as (head) of the Health Command in the middle of the (coronavirus) pandemic, he even had an intervention from the Prosecutor’s Office, because I worked a few meters away and I could see when they entered for hiring issues. Perhaps more knowledgeable about this topic are the people who have worked with it. I can cite General Manuel Paz Ramos, my classmate, who was unjustly retired, being a hero of the Cenepa war and a Chavín de Huántar commando,” he said.
“And last year, Major General Ricardo Bustamante Zúñiga, the first place in the same promotion, retired. He should be the Chief of General Staff of the Army. But they retire being a brilliant officer, an officer with an impeccable track record, with leadership, highly trained,” he added.
“When you describe the case of officers relegated to favor others, or uncomfortable officers being retired because they make complaints of corruption, they resemble Montesinist practices. Vladimiro Montesinos controlled retirement passes, promotions and assignments to important positions. Do you find a similarity?” he was asked.
“There is a similarity, definitely yes. (…) (Monteinist practices) based on corruption. Logically, it is corruption. Corruption is not only: ‘I give you money and you do me a favor.’ Corruption is also: ‘I promote you even though you should not promote.’ (…)”.
“In exchange for loyalty?” he was told.
“Probably so,” he replied.
“A criminal loyalty?” he was insisted.
“It is very likely so,” he said.
“Would this be the way to remove (uncomfortable) officers?” he was asked.
“Yes, definitely yes. Of course, it’s the style,” admitted General Víctor Canales.
Just as General Canales’ expressions drew the favorable attention of a sector critical of the Boluarte Government, he also received observations from those who consider that the retired high-ranking officer is looking for a space in politics. Canales denied it.
“I don’t have a political ideology, any political tinge. I do not belong to any political party. I have just left the uniform and I have always governed myself under military regulations and laws, and my passion has always been the military career, the career of arms. But in this condition that I find myself as a citizen, a citizen like any other Peruvian, If I have to enter politics, I would do so strictly to be able to fight hard and frontally against corruption.”, he alleged.
