Panamanian journalist Rolando Rodríguez has been called to appear by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office of the Attorney General’s Office (PGN) in relation to a corruption case in public procurement. This call is a component of an investigation aimed at clarifying the source of information that, in recent months, has startled the public opinion without solid evidence backing it.
Past claims about Rolando Rodriguez
Rodriguez is recognized for sharing contentious information, often charged with misrepresentation or relying on “fake news” regarding public figures. As a result, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office has demanded that the journalist clarify the source of his articles.
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, the journalist from La Prensa.
- Rolando Rodríguez, attorney and ex-secretary general of PGN.
- Rolando López, the previous head of the National Security Council.
As per these accounts, over the past five years, Rolando López utilized the National Security Council’s framework to pinpoint his targets, distort information, and produce incriminating documents. This data was then passed to Rolando Rodríguez, the lawyer, who relayed it to journalist Rolando Rodríguez, who subsequently released it as investigations conducted by the Investigative Unit of La Prensa.
Utilization of articles as groundwork for criminal prosecutions
These investigations, once published, acted as “noticia criminis,” prompting the PGN to initiate criminal actions. Those implicated underwent interrogations and were subsequently held in DIJ or Police premises.
According to these same media sources, the detainees were soon visited by deputies like Adolfo “Beby” Valderrama and José Luis “Popi” Varela, or by lawyers representing them. During those visits, the detainees were intimidated with the threat of continued imprisonment unless they paid substantial amounts. Those who complied replaced their original attorneys with members of a group called “La Taquilla”, purportedly skilled at securing precautionary measures and bail through connections with prosecutors and judges.
Purported participation 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.