Two hours after the former president Pedro Castillo dissolved the CongressPNP non-commissioned officer Nilo Irigoín Chávez, considered the “shadow” of personal security and a close friend of the former head of state, ordered the departure of the presidential family from government palace in two vehicles heading unknown.
The surprise mobilization of Pedro Castillo, his wife and children was alerted by the head of the presidential escort, PNP Major Luis Alarcón Trujillo, the head of the Presidential Security Division, PNP Colonel Walter Ramos Gómez, as well as the head of the Escort Department. Presidential, PNP commander Miguel Carpio Zúñiga. At that time, it was 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
“Exit reserved!” (no destination) —NCO Irigoín communicated to the driver of the “chest” (presidential vehicle), NCO PNP Josep Grández López.
-Where are they going? asked Colonel Walter Ramos
“Reserved exit,” my colonel! Irigoín repeated.
In the “chest” were former President Pedro Castillo, his wife Lilia Paredes, their little daughter Alondra and former Premier Aníbal Torres. They were all sitting in the back. Irigoín was the co-pilot.
According to sources from the Government Palace, Colonel Walter Ramos as soon as he became aware of the activities of former President Castillo, immediately contacted the head of the PNP State Security Directorate, PNP General Iván Lizzetti Salazar, who at all times told him He recommended that the entourage not lose sight of him, since it was necessary to know where Castillo was going, given the critical situation facing the country, after the announcement to dissolve Congress.
The “chest” is protected by four security rings: Two “hares” (police officers on motorcycles) that open the way, two patrol cars and a mobile from the Sub Unit of Tactical Actions (SUAT) of the PNP. Behind that security line was the vehicle of Colonel Walter Ramos accompanied by Commander Miguel Carpio.
“At Tacna and Nicolás de Piérola avenues, the driver Grández asked the non-commissioned officer Irigoín what the route was. ‘Where is my superior going?’ he told her. Immediately, Irigoín consulted former President Castillo: “Pedro, where are we going?” ‘To the Mexican embassy!’, the ex-president replied, “sources from the presidential escort told La República
“Oops, it’s going to go away! If President Castillo gets into the embassy, the ones who are going to go to jail are us!” exclaimed Colonel Walter Ramos. So he immediately called General Iván Lizzetti, reporting what had happened.
“My general, what do I do?” The man is going to the Mexican embassy! He informed her.
-Wait wait. I will consult! General Lizzetti replied.
“At that time, Colonel Walter Ramos did not know what to do, whether to stop him or not, because he still did not have the support of the institution. Also, they were late. What would happen if he arrested President Castillo and the Armed Forces supported the closure of Congress? The one who was going to jail was Colonel Ramos. Colonel Ramos risked it,” commented another source who was at the scene.
As the vehicle moved along Tacna and Nicolás de Piérola avenues, Colonel Ramos desperately called General Lizzetti, but he did not answer. After a while, General Lizzetti returned the call and said almost shouting:
“Stop it, stop it!” ordered General Ivan Lizzetti.
However, that day the traffic was congested and Colonel Ramos’ cell phone had been far from the presidential entourage. Thus, Colonel Walter Ramos, taking advantage of the change in traffic light at the intersection of Inca Garcilaso and España avenues, ordered Commander Miguel Carpio to run to the first security vehicle to prevent it from advancing.
—You stand here! Nobody move! Commander Carpio yelled at the driver of the security vehicle, after hitting the hood of the car.
However, despite the fact that Commander Miguel Carpio ordered the procession not to advance, Petty Officer Orlando Tello Guevara, another of Castillo’s personal security “shadows”, demanded the driver to continue with the tour.
“Given this situation, Colonel Ramos ordered the SUAT mobile to close the passage of the vehicle where the former president was traveling. And at the height of the International Clinic, in the middle of Inca Garcilaso avenue, Colonel Walter Ramos warned the ‘shadows’ that Castillo was detained”, reported the sources.
“Think of your children and your family. If we don’t do this, if we don’t stop him, we’re all going to jail,” warned Colonel Walter Ramos while communicating with General Iván Lizzetti, requesting the presence of a prosecutor for the intervention of former President Pedro Castillo.
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, PETER!”
During the intervention with former President Castillo, his wife Lilia Paredes and their youngest daughter, Alondra, who was sitting between his legs, began to cry and despair over everything that was happening. “But what have you done, Pedro! Why did you do it! ”, Lilia Paredes said to her spouse, while she hugged her daughter. They did not understand exactly what was happening.
Pedro Castillo kept his gaze fixed ahead. He didn’t turn around to say anything. According to witnesses, he simply kept quiet.