In mid-December, Mario Ferreiro, former mayor of Asunción, was acquitted of a case of alleged parallel collection that began at the end of 2019. Since then, the communicator has gone through various adverse situations until he was recently redeemed, after a journalistic investigation that revealed that the accusation was mounted by his political adversaries in contribution with fiscal agents.
He affirms that he will no longer do politics but that he will not leave this case in nothing. Since he has instructed his lawyer to initiate actions against all those who damaged his image.
How do you feel now that all the facts are cleared up?
Mainly we are very happy for the acquittal, the sentence that was received in the last days of last year, for me it was a great satisfaction, a relief. We also consider a great legal triumph, after a defense, in a trial that lasted six months, in a process that lasted three years. That for me is the most important thing, the legal result. I invite the public to read the sentence because it is exemplary and details all the aspects that refute that reckless accusation that I received. That is the main thing and what is now known, far exceeds what we had expected, because although we knew that there was a plot behind it, we never thought that the details could be known, even the smallest, horrifying details of this plot that was perpetrated to force us to resign.
Are you going to take any actions as a result of this situation?
I left the entire judicial part in the hands of Guillermo (Ferreiro, his nephew and lawyer) because I have to continue working, I returned to my task as a communicator gradually, it was very difficult for me. But I am now celebrating three years of being reinstated in the media. So I asked the lawyer Guillermo Ferreiro to do what has to be done from the judicial point of view and he began with that presentation today. Tomorrow there will be another presentation before the Prosecutor’s Office. Because if you don’t act based on everything that is now known, you end up being an accomplice. The basic concept of law is that if someone knows of a punishable act, they have to report it, otherwise, by omission, one ends up being guilty or at least an accomplice. .
We are obliged to denounce what appeared. My lawyer is doing it and finally there is a complaint that I filed three years ago, precisely against my complainant who never moved. Surely after this he will move or when the new State Attorney General takes office. But for the moment that has been dead in the Prosecutor’s Office for three years. So the legal actions that must be taken will be carried out, but Guillermo Ferreiro will be in charge of that.
How were your days since this process began?
They were very difficult, especially for the family, because we had to wait at least three years for this moral compensation. It was not easy at work, I am explaining to many people that in our country we do not respect the presumption of innocence, so the whole process was quite suffered. But we also had the patience and perseverance and luckily the understanding of some people who helped me find a job and support my family.
I left the municipality with four approved balances, I left the commune with an affidavit that shows that I had less money or assets when I left than I had before entering. Curious case that caught our attention, it was difficult but it was also important to have proven innocence while fully respecting all constitutional procedures contemplated by law.
Who were the people who did not abandon him at that time?
Actually there are many, but at work, the Correa family, Daniel and Javier opened the doors for me to work in their media, they are the owners of Top Milenium and Conquistador and there I found refuge and protection. And I will never stop thanking them because I really didn’t have a job.
A little later, Mr. Norman Harrison called me to go to Megacadena, even above prejudice and recently Marcelo Fleitas from Channel 9, which was my home all my life. I will never stop thanking them because for those who have children and have to support a family, we all know how distressing it is not having a job. And more after the reckless action that we now know, groups that pull the strings of political and judicial power.
Did you ever sell part of your property?
Luckily I didn’t have to sell my real estate, I only have one, rented that pays me well, an ordinary house and then I had to sell things, I sold records, which is what I want most in life. I sacrificed sound equipment, pictures. There was a time when I had to generate income to meet my obligations, pay school fees, the daily economy of any person, which in my case was affected, because I also left early from a place where I had planned to be at least one more year. Many also ask; why did you quit? And now it is being seen why, because there was an order to bust if he did not resign, because there was an order to see if he wanted money or blood. There was a kind of speech that was going to become more violent and dangerous for everyone, including my family.
What is the future that awaits you?
I always explain this, I dedicated 10 years to politics, I think enough, with successes and errors, trying to do everything for the best, but I think it is also time for the new generations. That is why I am supporting Guillermo for deputy, many candidates. I am a febrerista, I am always going to be a member of the opposition and I am going to help him to get spaces of power but not me as a candidate anymore.
How is your day to day today?
It can be said that I got my life back, I am very family-oriented, I enjoy my children, I do all the tasks that have to be done, I still have two minor children, I enjoy the privacy of my home, where I spend a lot of time writing and listening to music . I have returned to my old profession as Disc Jockey Entertainer, which fills me with joy and pride, being able to go to work, pursue a salary, such elementary things, I am grateful every day because at a given moment it was not like that. We had a very difficult time in the pandemic but I am also a believer and at another time in my life when I also had very terrible situations, that faith helped me overcome the situation. I had the assistance of a great lawyer but I also firmly believe that a superior being helped me that I conceive under the name of God who was always by my side.
