Pedro Castillo’s shadow cabinet exists. Since December it began to be talked about, although only as a rumour; however, as the weeks passed, it gained strength. And now he has managed to bring down a whole Minister council.
Carlos Jaico – until yesterday Secretary General of the Presidency – in his letter of resignation spoke about such an alternate cabinet. “I warned early on of the harmful influence that some cabinet advisers and designated officials have on their decisions as a ‘shadow cabinet’ of which I was never a part, to the detriment of the governability and stability of the country”.
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This parallel cabinet is made up of advisers to the Government Palace, friends of Castillo and members of the Magisterial Front that promotes Fenatep – the teachers’ union that supports the president and was previously identified with Conare-Movadef. His job is to back the president.
On January 12, Peru21 He spoke with Miguel Miranda Purizaga, leader of the Magisterial Front, who has participated in cabinet meetings that he calls ‘social and popular’. Miranda confirmed that “the team of advisers to the president” is working to find a legal way to formalize this still secret instance.
He mentioned that Eder Viton Burga –technical advisor to the Technical Office of the Presidency– and Wilson Gari Pretel –chief of the Technical Office of the Presidency– participate in the secret meetings. Another character with whom they also meet is Beder Camacho Gadea. All this, behind the backs of the ministers of state.
Beder, the unconditional
Although he has no political affiliation and has held public office since 2014, Undersecretary of the Presidency Beder Camacho is Pedro Castillo’s right-hand man (see box). His task within the Palace reaches the point of lending his name so that the professor can meet with Mery Coila, former leader of Movadef, at the government house.
In addition, Camacho had a meeting with the questioned former General Commander of the Police, Javier Gallardo. The resigning Carlos Jaico asked the Institutional Control Body to initiate control actions against Beder.
Biberto, the hand of Cerrón
Since the appointment of Biberto Castillo León as a consultant at the Palace, in December 2021, his questionable past came to light. The official was pointed out in 2015 by the then congressman Rolando Reátegui as one of the coordinators of the Ministry of Economy who pressed the most to approve projects that favored – nothing more and nothing less – the Antalsis company, according to the Panorama program. The company was involved in the case of the Comuneros bridge, which has Vladimir Cerrón, the owner of Perú Libre, as one of the main investigated.
“I worked as the parliamentary coordinator of the MEF, my work was purely technical, in favor of the bills and orders of said ministry, which means defending the interests of the State and not of individuals,” he replied to a web portal when asked. about the topic.
Before arriving at the Palace, Biberto Castillo was Vladimir Cerrón’s amanuensis; he was dedicated to coordinating meetings for the man sentenced for corruption.
Castillo León was pointed out –this week– by Mirtha Vásquez as one of the advisers who incites the president to make mistakes; also, by the Minister of Energy and Mines as the person who pressed for the irregular appointment of Daniel Salaverry in Perupetro. All these antecedents cost him the position.
Keep in mind
- Biberto Castillo León is being investigated for simple theft, he is affiliated with Somos Perú and was sanctioned by ONPE for not submitting his 2018 campaign contributions when he ran for mayor of Los Olivos.
- Some of the characters who were sworn in yesterday as ministers met with Beder Camacho on Monday night at the Palace. They are Oscar Graham (MEF) and Alejandro Salas (Culture), according to the Transparency portal.
