The presidential candidate Rafael Belaunde He held a press conference this Wednesday, in which he spoke about the attack suffered yesterday against him in Cerro Azul. He maintained that the attack against him would not be linked to politics, rather it would be a product of citizen insecurity.
The 50-year-old politician considered that “we have to defend ourselves” and assured that “we cannot normalize a situation that has families cornered.
“What happened to me happens to thousands of small entrepreneurs,” he said.
Belaunde thanked the National Police for their work after the attack was reported. When asked if he will ask for guarantees, he assured that he will not request “anything that is not provided for in the regulations.”
“There is a schedule. It seems to me that it is around the 23rd that State security is going to provide us with security,” he indicated.
The candidate pointed out that those who can exercise their right to self-defense must do so. Along these lines, he reported that the weapon he used to shoot the alleged hitmen was retained for “ballistic tests” and he requested that it be returned to him.
“I have two firearms: the one I used yesterday, which is a Glock that was taken by Criminalistics, and then I have another weapon that is the one I am using now,” he stated.
“I fired eight bullets”
Rafael Belaunde assured that he fired between 8 and 7 bullets, which were all he had loaded. “I stocked up on the gun before leaving. I left very early, about a quarter to 5 am from Lima to Cañete. I had been at the shooting range a few days ago, so I didn’t have many bullets,” he said.
The politician indicated that the perforations in the windshield of his vehicle were not the result of his shots, but rather those of the criminals who were on a motorcycle.
“The car had four hits, I don’t know if there were more. (…) I shot from outside the car, through the frame of the driver’s window,” he explained.
Belaunde pointed out that the wounds on his face were caused when he crouched against the seat, which was covered in glass from the criminals’ shots.
“When I returned to the car (…), against the driver’s seat that was full of glass. I remained crouched for a long time, because another motorcycle was coming, I didn’t know if it was the same motorcycle,” he said.
The presidential candidate stated that he did not publish the photo in which he is seen with traces of blood on his face and clothes, nor did he authorize anyone to publish it. In that sense, he specified that the photograph was taken after arriving at a safe place and he sent it to his lawyer.
“The PNP’s hands are tied”
Belaunde Llosa considered that the attack against him would not be linked to politics, but rather is part of citizen insecurity. “I wouldn’t think it has any connection with politics. It is an issue of citizen insecurity, like what thousands of Peruvians suffer every day,” he said.
Likewise, he considered “there has been a weakening in the regulatory system that ties the PNP’s hands a bit in being able to address violence and crime.”
“The PNP makes a great effort, the best it can, but it is also limited by a legal framework, due to lack of budget,” he added.
Receive your Perú21 by email or WhatsApp. Subscribe to our enriched digital newspaper. Take advantage of the discounts here.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO:
