The representative of the town of David, Jorge Eduardo Montenegro Vallarinoaccused of the crime of peculation for the irregular handling of funds delivered by the National Decentralization Authoritymust return to prison, after the Superior Court of Appeals of the Third Judicial District (Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro) revoked the measure of house arrest.
In a hearing held yesterday Wednesday, the magistrates Carlos Valentín Rivas Alarcón (speaker), Jackeline Montenegro and Carlos Daniel Fajardo Morales They considered that, in the case of Montenegro Vallarino, the most appropriate precautionary measure is the provisional detention. On July 20, 2025, the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office sent the DIJ a list of 70 former township representatives, former treasurers and former mayors who should be located, after an audit report from the Comptroller General of the Republic revealed irregularities in the management of funds.
The Court considered that deprivation of liberty is the most appropriate measure and proportional to the nature of the fact, coupled with the fact that the procedural risk of affecting evidence persists. Furthermore, what was stated by the forensic doctor of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf)who in a legal medical report indicated that the defendant’s health condition can be treated within the prison, with permission for medical evaluations.
The investigation of this criminal case began when the Comptroller General of the Republic referred to the Public Ministry an audit report related to the alleged embezzlement of funds intended for social interest programs in the Community Board of David headbetween the years 2019 and 2024.
In this case, the measure of house arrest remains Emgelberth Geovanny Estrada Linaresmember of the board of directors of the Social Security Fundwho served as treasurer of the David Community Board between the years 2019 and 2024and to whom the Prosecutor’s Office attributes participation in the irregular management of decentralization funds assigned to said entity.
