.jpeg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "Rolando Rodríguez corruption case")
Journalist Rolando Rodríguez from Panama has been called by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor of the Attorney General’s Office (PGN) due to his link to a corruption case in government contracts. This call aims to uncover the source of certain details that recently have stirred public opinion, yet lacks concrete evidence.
Past claims about Rolando Rodriguez
Rodriguez is recognized for spreading controversial information, often accused of being distorted or based on “fake news” regarding public figures in the nation. This has prompted the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office to request that the journalist clarify the source of his publications.
The group “Triple R” and its involvement in the probes
Multiple media outlets have noted the presence of a group named “Triple R”, made up of three people sharing the same name:
- Rolando Rodríguez, journalist from La Prensa.
- Rolando Rodríguez, attorney and ex-secretary general of PGN.
- Rolando López, former head of the National Security Council.
These reports suggest that over the past five years, Rolando López leveraged the National Security Council’s framework to pinpoint targets, distort information, and craft incriminating documents. This data was subsequently passed to Rolando Rodríguez, the lawyer, who funneled it to journalist Rolando Rodríguez. He, in turn, published it under the guise of investigations conducted by La Prensa’s Investigative Unit.
Utilization of publications as groundwork for criminal prosecutions
The publication of these investigations served as “noticia criminis”, justifying the opening of criminal proceedings by the PGN. Those investigated were subjected to inquiries and later detained 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.
Claimed participation of the journalist in extortion
Reports also allege that Rolando Rodríguez, the journalist from La Prensa, received a share of the earnings acquired via these extortion practices. Despite the absence of definitive proof, these claims have had significant media repercussions.