The Minister of the Interior, Francisco Jiménez, spoke again about the events in San Andrés Itzapa, Chimaltenango, calling them “unjustifiable” and expressing understanding towards the frustration of the residents.
The case has shocked the community after the arrest of two men, Milton Nelson Santamariaidentified as a US citizen, and Eldin Leonel Choc Xia resident of the town, by agents of the National Civil Police (PNC) on April 18.
According to complaints and the reconstruction of the events, after his arrest Santamaría was beaten to death, while Choc Xi remains missing.
This Sunday, April 21, Minister Jiménez published a message on social networks in which he recalled that Four agents involved in the case are detained and are looking for the sub-inspector who fledalso allegedly responsible.
Stresses need to purge the PNC
Likewise, he emphasized that the PNC has a presence in 328 municipalities in the country, interacting daily with the communities, and recognized that, although in most cases they act correctly, Sometimes they do it “in a deplorable way”.
This situation, according to the Minister, underlines the need to continue purging the institution of bad actors and inject resources and capabilities into the General Inspectorate of the PNC, in charge of investigating the misdemeanors and crimes of agents and senior commanders.
Read also: Tension in San Andrés Itzapa due to the disappearance of a neighbor and the death of a Canadian
“These acts expose a reality that cannot be hidden or immediately disappeared. and it is the need to continue cleaning the institution of bad agents. In addition, they reinforce our strategy of injecting resources and capabilities into the General Inspectorate of the PNC, which is responsible for investigating the misdemeanors and crimes of all agents and senior commanders,” the official wrote punctually.
The minister also highlighted the daily achievements of the PNC, such as lives saved or criminals captured, “thanks to the efforts of good agents. Along with the latter, We will redouble our efforts and do our best to lift up the institution that has been hit by the events in Chimaltenango.”, he added in his message.
The head of the portfolio called on “honest and fighting” agents to continue working honorably, and warned bad agents that this administration will not tolerate their behavior.
Finally he addressed the population and thanked them for their criticism and support: “Thank you for your criticism and also thank you for your support. Your videos, your reports and your messages on social networks are highly valued because only by listening to them will we be able to have the institutions that you deserve.”
Read also: Who was the man murdered in zone 10 of Guatemala City and what happened to the gang member who shot him
The events in San Andrés Itzapa, #Chimaltenango They are unjustifiable. I perfectly understand the frustration of the residents. There are already 4 bad agents in prison and we are looking for the coward who fled.
The PNC has a presence in 328 municipalities around the country,…
— Francisco Jiménez (@FJimenezmingob) April 21, 2024
Police accused of extrajudicial execution and disappearance
Minister Jiménez’s message comes after the four police agents were arrested and summoned to a first statement hearing, identified as Yorleni Macario Ramos, Yulisa Ayala Yol, Fredy Velásquez Pérez and Mauricio Contreras Salán.
As a resolution, the judge decided to link the four detained by the crimes of extrajudicial execution and forced disappearance.
One of the agents, identified as Fredy Velásquez Pérez, was charged as the author, while the other three were considered accomplices.
Likewise, the preventive detention of the four was ordered, who were transferred to the Mariscal Zavala prison in Guatemala City.
#MPfuerteYfirme
The Chimaltenango District Prosecutor’s Office coordinated with the National Civil Police the capture of four agents of that institution accused of allegedly committing the crime of extrajudicial executions. pic.twitter.com/zQRN0tEJ6P— MP of Guatemala (@MPguatemala) April 20, 2024
More related information: PNC affirms that it is looking for a sub-inspector who escaped after the disappearance of a neighbor in San Andrés Itzapa
San Andrés Itzapa expresses dismay
The community has been shocked by the death of Santamaría and the disappearance of Choc Xi.
Inacif confirmed Santamaría’s cause of death as exsanguinating hemorrhage due to rupture of the abdominal aorta, although full identification has not yet been established.
On Sunday, April 21, a group set fire to the San Andrés Itzapa PNC substation due to the lack of information about the whereabouts of Choc Xi and after the escape of the sub-inspector and head of the police station where the events occurred on April 18.
Since the afternoon before the substation fire, on Saturday, April 20, residents gathered there to demand answers and demand that a poster be posted announcing the disappearance of the sub-inspector.
#Minister #emphasizes #cleanup #PNC #incident #San #Andrés #Itzapa