Paraguay
Arlene Aquino questioned the lack of arrests over the alleged diversion of funds in Asunción
The candidate for mayor of Asunción compared the conviction of Hugo Javier González with the investigation into the municipal administration of Óscar Rodríguez. She argued that the former governor’s case represents a minimal share of the amount reported in the capital city government.
Arlene Aquino, candidate for mayor of Asunción for the Partido Patria Soñada, criticized the Judiciary’s handling of the alleged irregularities in the Municipality of Asunción and contrasted it with the conviction of former Central governor Hugo Javier González.
According to ABC Color, Aquino said on social media that the case for which Hugo Javier was convicted amounts to a minimal portion of the damage reported in the capital city government. The candidate noted that the former governor was convicted for the diversion of G. 5,105 million in emergency funds delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Against that, she contrasted the complaint over an alleged diversion of G. 500,000 million in funds intended for public works toward the supposed payment of salaries during the administration of Mayor Óscar “Nenecho” Rodríguez. In that context, she said there are no people in jail over the case of the so-called single account and called on the public to take that situation into account.
According to the background cited by ABC Color, Rodríguez is being prosecuted in the case known as “Detergente de Oro,” while the criminal investigation into the alleged embezzlement of the G. 500,000 million has shown no significant progress in the Prosecutor’s Office.
The newspaper also reviewed that Aquino is a notary public, specialized in real estate law and property titling, and that she is studying Political Science at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción. It also noted that she previously appeared on a list for the Chamber of Deputies for Cruzada Nacional, a group she later left, and that she later formalized her candidacy for the Partido Patria Soñada.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
