Peruvian Congress approves indictment of three former ministers of Pedro Castillo for rebellion and conspiracy

The Permanent Commission of the Peruvian Congress approved on March 14 the final report of the constitutional complaint that proposes to accuse three former President Pedro Castillo ministers of the crimes of rebellion and conspiracy.

They are the former president of the Council of Ministers, Betssy Chávez Chino; the former Minister of the Interior, Willy Arturo Huerta Olivas; and the former Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Roberto Sánchez Palomino.

Castillo left power precisely because he was deposed by Congress, which he tried to dissolve during a message issued to the nation on December 7, 2022.

The vacancy against him determined by the legislative branch unleashed a political crisis in Peru that continues to this day and has generated 66 fatalities, among civilians, police, and military, according to the count prepared by the Ombudsman’s Office of the Andean nation.

“With 20 votes in favor, the Permanent Commission approved the designation of the Accusing Sub-Commission, which will be integrated by parliamentarians Wilson Soto and Lady Camones, who will be in charge of formulating the constitutional accusations before the Plenary of the Congress”, informed in social networks the legislative precinct.

In the case of Chávez, the Commission approved the final report with 24 votes in favor.

For the head of the Interior of Castillo’s administration, Huerta Olivas, 19 votes were counted in favor of the investigation.

While the vote concerning Sanchez was 23 votes in favor.

Shortly before, Willy Huerta sent a letter to the president of the Parliament, José Williams, asking him to “please disapprove” the final report that proposes to accuse him along with the other former ministers.

Likewise, the former Minister of the Interior considered that both Betssy Chávez and Aníbal Torres, Pedro Castillo’s main advisor, should have been aware of the message that the former president gave to the nation on December 7, when in addition to trying to dissolve the Congress, he sought to establish a State of Emergency.

“I do not believe that Miss Betssy Chávez and Aníbal Torres did not know the message Mr. Castillo would give (…) I say this because she is the ex-premier, and Mr. Aníbal Torres has been premier and advisor at that time,” Huerta pointed out.

“They were the ones who entered the presidential office before the broadcast of that message. I have no reason to defend anyone (…) I have no reason to defend them when they deserve neither my loyalty nor my respect because they knew (…) what message former president Castillo was going to give”, he said in his participation in the Permanent Commission.

According to local media, the final report approved implies the suggestion to suspend congressmen Chávez Chino and Sánchez Palomino from their functions for the duration of the process.

In case they are acquitted, the legislators may return to their functions.

On March 8, after being accused by the Congress of heading an alleged criminal organization, former president Pedro Castillo assured that he felt “kidnapped” and denied the corruption charges against him.

He also noted that “a castle of crimes has been built with bought collaborators”.

Pedro Castillo is facing charges of “criminal organization, illicit association, and influence peddling” that could lead him to additional preventive imprisonment to the one he is serving for sedition.

With information from Sputnik