Henry Shimabukuro: Pedro Castillo's shadow advisor without an official position

Henry Shimabukuro's name has been named as one of the advisors in the shadow of President Pedro Castillo; however, he is not formally hired as an advisor to the Government Palace. In the same way, it is practically unlocatable and palace officials avoid clarifying their role.

His full name is Henry Augusto Shimabukuro Guevara and he is a businessman and known as a civil engineer. However, there is no title in the official Sunedu register in his name.

He has not been formally hired as an advisor, despite the fact that there are photographs of him in his office and at official meetings. Moreover, his opinion would be so important to the president that he was crucial in the decision to impose a curfew in Lima and Callao on April 5.

Shimabukuro became known a few years ago for building a warehouse in Villa El Salvador for the Fujimori family and denouncing the lack of payments. Now, he would be a recurring visitor to the Government Palace and some ministries. According to the record of visits, since December 2021 alone, he entered at least 14 times.

According to the Deputy Secretary General of the Presidential Office, Beder Camacho, the businessman is a member of the National Intelligence Directorate (DINI) and would have arrived in Palacio by the one investigated by the alleged 'Shadow Cabinet'.

Officials deny their role

“There (Government Palace) we signed a document of confidentiality of the things that happen inside the office. The man (Henry Shimabukuro) is not hired, he has no employment relationship,” Camacho told ATV+.

“Everyone who is there works. The man goes with his relationship to the subject of DINI, but the man does not work,” he added.

The president's adviser, Daniel Salaverry, also denied knowing details of the businessman.

“I don't know. I don't have that information. My visits to the President are very sporadic and my position is Ad honorem,” he replied to the same medium through a WhatsApp message.

However, sources from the program Al Estilo de Juliana said otherwise. In addition, of the more than 10 admissions to the Palace, it is said that he would have more unregistered visits.

Similarly, the same official record shows income as part of the presidential office to the ministries of Energy and Mines (MINEM), Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), and Transport and Communications (MTC).

On the other hand, a report from the seminar 'Hildebrandt in his thirteen' revealed that his vehicle has a special pass to enter the Government Palace. This same car, even, was seen near the local Peru-Libre, La Casa del Maestro, where he received a ballot.

Can't be located

The reporter of the ATV+ journalistic program went to the address indicated on his ID, but there was no response. His neighbor later reported that the house is practically uninhabited and that she has not heard from him since last year.

A woman who identified herself as her aunt also ruled out seeing him recently and said that sometimes he approaches, in the evenings.

RECORDS OF THE EXISTENCE OF A 'SHADOW CABINET'

After leaving the Ministry of the Interior, Avelino Guillen warned about the advisers of the President of the Republic, who would have even more power than ministers when it came to decision-making. Thus, on 20 February, the weekly 'Hildebrandt in his thirteen' published a report where he would prove what Guillén said, Mirtha Vasquez and Pedro Francke about a 'Shadow Cabinet'.

The report indicates that days before his resignation, the former secretary general of the presidency, Carlos Jaico, sent three memorandums to the institutional control body of the presidential office denouncing alleged acts of corruption in the intimate environment of the head of state.

It further indicates that Pedro Castillo was aware of this irregularity, but “he did not pay any attention to his then secretary general”.

WHO IS PART OF THIS 'SHADOW CABINET'?

The group of indispensable advisors for Castillo would be composed of Beder Camacho Gadea, the current deputy general secretary of the presidency, and Biberto Castillo León, former advisor hired through the Management Support Fund (FAG) system.

It should be noted that Camacho Gadea had been dismissed on January 31, but he continues to visit the Government Palace to attend to “personal matters” of the president. It is considered the 'administrative arm' of the group of advisors, but it acquired power in the intimate environment of the Head of State.

Biberto Castillo León is another questioned adviser who was fired by Jaico, after discovering that he was in charge of carrying out “a shadow operation to appoint Daniel Salaverry as president of the board of Perupetro, even though, according to the Comptroller's Office, he did not meet the requirements for that position.”

However, he continues to visit the Palace to attend to the president's “personal affairs”.

KEEP READING