police

Key law under review

The ministro de Gobierno y Justicia, Daniel Delgado Diamante, reported yesterday that the Executive Office is considering the possibility of changing the Ley Orgánica de la Policía Nacional so as to permit the appointment of a uniformed police officer as chief of the national police. The announcement comes after criticism of President Torrijos's recent designation of career police officer Jaime Ruiz to the position of interim head of the national force, which critics charge is unconstitutional, since Panamanian law establishes that the institution must be directed by a civilian.

Delgado Diamante indicated that the idea of reforming the law is not new, and that President Torrijos himself has referred to it on a number of occasions since an important public security forum in 2003. Moreover, he said, he, too been talking about reforming the law since last year.

The ministro made it clear, however, that no draft of a reform currently exists, although that does not mean that one could not be prepared in the short or medium term.

“That is the prerogative of the President, and I cannot talk about dates. What I can say is that reform is under consideration, although in the meantime the law as it stands will continue to be respected. Indeed, the designation of commissioner Jaime Ruiz is an interim measure,” he said.

In his judgement, it is “totally absurd” that a man who graduated as a police officer, serves in the police, and has achieved the highest rank in the organization cannot become its director.”