The Association of Municipalities of Panama (AMUPA), through a statement published this Monday, reacted to the interview published in several media outlets, in which the lawyer Roberto Ruiz Diaz, denounced having been repeatedly contacted by telephone by a person(s) from said government agency, to present a request for clarification before the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) related to the ruling that declares unconstitutional the paid licenses of mayors and representatives.
In said statement, AMUPA categorically denies that someone linked to that institution has made such calls and acknowledges the ruling issued by the CSJ.
‘The Association of Municipalities of Panama categorically denies that any collaborator or member of our Association has contacted or made a call to Mr. Roberto Ruíz Díaz. In the case of paid leave, the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) has already decided on the subject in the ruling issued on March 14, 2022. Therefore, the AMUPA recognizes it,’ says the AMUPA.
“On Friday of last week they were insistently trying to contact me from the Association of Municipalities, even in a missed call I returned the call because we were dealing with the emails, an official or a person who represents the AMUPA shamelessly contacted me. ask me, being me the proponent of the claim of unconstitutionality, to ask for a clarification of the sentence because as of today it is executory and that was the only way to delay the entry into force, “revealed the jurist.
The CSJ held in the ruling that the words “with salary” included in the articles demanded by the lawyer Ruiz Díaz violate various articles of the Constitution, which refers to the first to the prohibition of privileges and privileges, and the second, that public servants They may not receive two or more salaries paid by the State, except for legal exceptions, which results in the prohibition of holding two positions simultaneously.
According to information from the Comptroller General of the Republic, at the national level 30 mayors and 132 representatives had paid licenses.
The CSJ must submit its ruling this Tuesday to the Official Gazette and once published by the Comptroller, the payments must cease.
With information from Nancy Pretto
