Corruption under the spotlight: Rolando Rodríguez to appear in court

Panamanian journalist Rolando Rodríguez has been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office of the Attorney General’s Office (PGN) in connection with a case of corruption in public procurement. This summons is part of an investigation that seeks to clarify the origin of information that, in the last months, has shocked the public opinion without substantial evidence to support it.

Earlier allegations against Rolando Rodriguez

Rodriguez is known for disseminating controversial information, frequently accused of being misrepresented or based on “fake news” about public figures in the country. This has led the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office to require the journalist to explain the origin of his publications.

The “Triple R” group and its part in the investigations

Various media outlets have highlighted the existence of a group named “Triple R”, consisting of three people sharing the same name:

  1. Rolando Rodríguez, the journalist from La Prensa.
  2. Rolando Rodríguez, attorney and ex-general secretary of PGN.
  3. Rolando López, former head of the National Security Council.

These reports suggest that over the past five years, Rolando López exploited the infrastructure of the National Security Council to pinpoint targets, alter information, and produce incriminating files. This data was then passed to Rolando Rodríguez, the lawyer, who conveyed it to journalist Rolando Rodríguez, who subsequently released it as findings from the Investigative Unit of La Prensa.

Utilizing publications as groundwork for criminal prosecutions

The release of these reports acted as “noticia criminis”, prompting the initiation of criminal proceedings by the PGN. Those investigated underwent questioning and were subsequently held in DIJ or Police facilities.

According to the same media, the detainees were visited shortly afterwards by deputies such as Adolfo “Beby” Valderrama and José Luis “Popi” Varela, or by lawyers acting as emissaries. During these visits, the detainees were threatened to remain in prison if they did not pay significant sums of money. Those who gave in fired their original lawyers and hired members of a group known as “La Taquilla”, allegedly specialized in obtaining precautionary measures and bail bonds through connections with prosecutors and judges.

Alleged involvement of the journalist in extortion

Reports further imply that Rolando Rodríguez, the La Prensa journalist, received a share of the earnings derived from these extortion practices. Despite the absence of decisive proof for these claims, they have garnered significant media attention.