Through press release 001-2023, the Police at the service of the Daniel Ortega regime made official a series of appointments and rotations of its police chiefs in different parts of the country.
One of the most visible movements was in the Matagalpa police station, which was in charge of the general commissioner Sergio Gutierrez Espinoza, who now assumes as Head of the Directorate of Economic Research.
Related news: Ortega regime confirms movements of senior police commanders
The new chief of the Matagalpa Police will be the general commissioner Luis Barranteswho since 2019 was the “executioner” of Masaya, ordering sieges on Catholic churches, in addition to raids, arbitrary arrests, threats against opponents and journalists.
In 2020, Barrantes was accused by the journalist Miguel Mora, for allegedly attempting the life of his wife, also a journalist Verónica Chávez, when leaving a political meeting in the city of Masaya.
It should be noted that after having been director of the Masaya police station last year, Barrantes was reportedly promoted to Head of the National Public Security Directorate.
Why Ortega’s new movements?
The police movements, especially in Matagalpa, take place after the Ortega regime began to look for witnesses against Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, bishop of the Diocese of that department, accused of the alleged crimes of conspiracy to undermine national integrity and propagation of false news, to the detriment of the State and Nicaraguan society.
Before the rotations became official, the lawyer and former worker of the Judiciary Yader Morazan reported on the matter and pointed out the disagreement of the Ortega dictatorship against Commissioner Sergio Gutiérrez for not “taking a strong hand against Bishop Álvarez.”
«General Commissioner Sergio Gutiérrez, departmental head of the “PN” of Matagalpa was removed from his position and without new assignment, for treating the city’s parishioners “gently” and showing “weakness” when trying to persuade Bishop Álvarez the the day he was locked up in the Curia, “explained the lawyer on a Twitter account.
In addition, he had already anticipated that Barrantes would replace him. At the same time, he published a video showing the executioner of the Matagalpinos making known his servility to the dictator Daniel Ortega: “Free homeland or die. Long live Commander Daniel!».
Related news: Miguel Mora accuses Daniel Ortega and high-ranking officers of the Police for assaulting Verónica Chávez
In interview with Article 66Morazán said that the Police made these movements public, already when the Nicaraguan population was aware of it. “This coincides with the desperate way of wanting to cover the gap that we all already know.”
Other movements in the Police
Other changes announced by the Police were the Ivan Jose Escobar Ramirezwho was head of the DIE and will go on to lead the International Airports Administration Company (EAAI), while the deputy police chief of Chinandega, Victor Leonel Huerta González, He will replace Rodriguez.
The Nicaraguan Police did not refer to the case of the head of the Directorate of Investigation and Intelligence, Adolfo Marencowho, according to independent media, was arrested in recent days for alleged differences with Ortega.
The institution reported that the commissioner Pedro Jose Rodriguez Arguetapreviously Chief of the Police Delegation of the Mining Triangle and who was supposedly under arrest, became head of the National Public Security Directorate.
Ortega’s new moves in his questioned Police have been made in recent weeks. The sanctioned police institution is accused of being the repressive arm of the regime, carrying out crimes against humanity.
