Follow the novel: they open investigation to Chancellor Villavicencio by Passport

The Attorney General’s Office opened a disciplinary investigation on Wednesday against the Chancellor in charge, Rosa Villavicenciofor alleged irregularities in the signing of an agreement for the manufacture of passports, a case in which two excazilleres and the head of the presidential office, Alfredo Saade are already investigated.

The entity pointed out in a statement that, in addition to Villavicencio, which has been in charge for three weeks, The measure also includes the manager of the National Printing, Alba Liliana León, and the general secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Elvira Sanabria Salazar.

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According to the Attorney General’s Office, the signing of the agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Printingheld on July 18, “Possibly transgresses planning and economy principles of state hiring, showing that there are no previous documents and studies that support the conclusion of the agreement“

“Due to the failures in the planning of the new scheme for the supply of passports, there is an omission to the duty that assists the officials to comply with the principles that regulate state contracting and administrative function“The control body added.

For possible irregularities in the implementation of the new passport model, the Attorney General’s Office had already initiated disciplinary investigations on July 9 against Saade and the excazilleres Laura Sarabia and Luis Gilberto Murillo.

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In the case of Saade, the entity investigates whether it was overreach in its functions by instructions to officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to rationalize the assignment of appointments to issue passports.

This controversy was precisely the one that led Sarabia to resign at the beginning of July in charge of the Foreign Ministry, which had been assumed in January.

Under the direction of Villavicencio, The Government announced on Tuesday the signing of the agreement with Portugal to implement the new passport expedition model, together with the National Printingand replacing the company Thomas Greg & Sonsin charge of the process during the last 17 years.

“The monopoly is finally over“, celebrated on the eve President Gustavo Petroin reference to the multinational of British origin.

Origins of the controversy

The controversy with passports began in 2023 when the then chancellor, Álvaro Leyvahe suspended the contract with Thomas Greg & Sons, claiming that in the last tender there was no free competition.

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To replace that firm, the Petro government signed a memorandum of understanding with Portugal and the National Printing, despite Sarabia’s warnings that the latter lacks the technical capacity necessary for the elaboration of documents.

Therefore, before leaving office, the former chancellor extended for one year the contract with Thomas Greg & Sons from next September 1, a decision that was then reversed by Saade, who also ordered the Foreign Ministry team “take the assignment of appointments to ‘make’ the ‘stock’ of passports that remains“

As part of the evidence ordered at this stage of the investigation, The Attorney General’s Office seeks to determine if the National Printing really has the necessary technical capacity to assume the impression, customization and distribution of passports.

EFE