International
Subcommittee on Constitutional Accusations of Congress meets today for ‘Los Niños’ case
February 13 |
This Monday, February 13, the Sub-Commission of Constitutional Accusations of the Congress of the Republic will meet to continue with the investigation process for the case of ‘Los Niños’. The meeting has been scheduled for eight o’clock in the morning and the hearings will continue in order to clarify the alleged crimes against the parliamentarians of Acción Popular.
The constitutional complaint reaches congressmen Raúl Doroteo, Juan Carlos Celis, Jorge Flores, Darwin Espinoza, Ilich López and Elvis Vergara, all members of the political party Acción Popular. The legislators are being accused as alleged perpetrators of the crimes of aggravated collusion, improper passive bribery, criminal organization and influence peddling.
According to Parliament’s agenda, this session will include the testimonies of several civilian witnesses in the case. Beder Camacho, Salatiel Marrufo, Biberto Castillo and congressmen Hilda Portero and Silvia Monteza have also been called to participate.
Anibal Torres, former president of the Council of Ministers, participated as a witness in the sub-commission of Constitutional Accusations of the Congress on the ‘Los Niños’ case. The former premier assured that he is not aware that the denounced legislators have received any benefit from former president Pedro Castillo.
“The congressmen who have participated, have intervened, have not talked to me, except for some rare exceptions. Time is not enough because we are collecting the concerns of the local authorities, as well as those of the citizens,” he said.
The denunciation filed by Congresswoman Patricia Chirinos highlights that those investigated colluded with Pedro Castillo to benefit with works if they supported him in the event of an eventual vacancy and thus the former president would remain in power.
For his part, PNP Colonel Harvey Colchado remarked that the hypothesis of the Prosecutor’s Office indicates that the congressmen benefited in the Produce ministry, due to the fact that in the vacancy debate against former president Pedro Castillo, the so-called ‘Los Niños’ voted against the initiative, in spite of their party’s position.
According to Harvey Colchado’s version, Congressman Darwin Espinoza was the one who recommended the Minister of Production, Jorge Palomino, to former President Pedro Castillo to occupy the position so that everything would have a single “connection”.
“The congressman at first attacked the Government and the Minister of Production because they had appointed a minister that they had not recommended. The former president Pedro Castillo asked the congressman Darwin Espinoza to give him a month to change the head of the sector and place the one he believes convenient, being appointed Jorge Palomino”, he mentioned.
The member of the Special Team against Corruption of Power made it known in front of the Sub-Commission of Constitutional Accusations that, last September 7, 2021, the congressmen called ‘The Children’ arrived at the Government Palace to hold a meeting with Pedro Castillo; however, he was absent due to the health condition of his youngest daughter.
In addition, it was mentioned that this would not be the first time that these congressmen held meetings with the former president in strict privacy.
International
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 28, with six people reported missing and 43 injured, local newspaper VnExpress reported Friday night.
More than 22,100 homes remain flooded, primarily in the cities of Hue and Da Nang. Floods and landslides have destroyed or swept away 91 houses and damaged another 181, the report added.
Around 245,000 households are still without electricity, particularly in Da Nang, where over 225,000 homes are affected.
Additionally, 80 stretches of national highways are blocked or disrupted due to landslides. Authorities expect the flooding to continue for another day or two in the region.
International
FBI foils ISIS-Inspired attack in Michigan, arrests five teens
Kash Patel did not provide further details, but police sources told CBS News that the potential attack was “inspired” by the Islamic State (ISIS).
“This morning, the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested several individuals in Michigan who were allegedly planning a violent attack during the Halloween weekend,” Patel wrote on X.
“Thanks to swift action and close coordination with our local partners, a possible terrorist act was prevented before it could be carried out,” he added.
CBS reported that five people between the ages of 16 and 20 were arrested on Friday. At least one of them was reportedly acquainted with a former member of the Michigan National Guard, who was arrested in May for plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on a U.S. military facility in the Detroit suburbs.
International
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed concerns over China’s growing military activity near Taiwan during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a constructive and positive meeting,” Hegseth wrote on X. “I emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions around Taiwan,” the self-governed island that Beijing claims and does not rule out invading.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. According to Trump, Taiwan was not discussed during their talks.
“The United States does not seek conflict and will continue to firmly defend its interests, ensuring it maintains the capability to do so in the region,” Hegseth added in his message.
Friday’s encounter followed a September 9 video call between Hegseth and Dong. Their previously planned meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was canceled due to Dong’s absence from the event.
Trump’s sit-down with Xi — their first since 2019 — resulted in some trade agreements but avoided addressing the issue of Taiwan, a long-standing source of tension between the world’s two largest powers.
Trump has taken a more ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s future compared with former President Joe Biden, who repeatedly stated that Washington would support Taipei if China launched an invasion. The Republican president has also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the U.S. semiconductor industry.
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