Pedro Castillo: the tense relationship with the press and the cases that ended up being prosecuted

It is no secret that since the day he took office, and even earlier since he was a candidate, Pedro Castillo is not exactly a media man. He does not have a smooth relationship with the press and the interviews he has given so far can be counted on his fingers. And as is normal in every government, there is a sector of the press that is openly opposed to the teacher's regime.

In these almost nine months of government, there have been a series of attacks against the press men, to the point that covering a presidential press conference has become a risky exercise.

CASTLE VS. OVERVIEW

Pedro Castillo sent a notarial letter to the television program 'Panorama' on Tuesday after the broadcast of a report last Sunday showing images of the president playing football alongside an alleged state provider.

The president denies that he knows Roberto Jesús Aguilar Quispe, representative of the company INIP, Ingeniería Integración de Proyectos S.A.C. “Once again I strongly refuse to meet Roberto Jesús Aguilar Quispe, who is not the person who participated (in) the aforementioned leisure activity, as is falsely pointed out in the news report disseminated by you”, he explained.

The document was sent to Roxana Cueva, director and host of Sunday, and to José Beteta Bazán, director of 'Vigilante.pe'. According to the letter, the report seeks to link the testimony of lobbyist Karelim López to the effect that she has maintained or maintains relationships with people who would belong to an alleged mafia that would be unduly favored with hiring at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC).

Castillo Terrones requested that within 24 hours of receiving the notarial letter, they rectify their statements, otherwise it will take civil and criminal actions for the crime of aggravated defamation, provided for in article 132 of the Criminal Code.

CASO BETO ORTIZ

A few days ago, journalist Beto Ortiz received a conviction against him for the complaint filed by Pedro Castilla Torres, former Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment Promotion, for the crime of aggravated defamation.

As is recalled, the official decided to sue Humberto Martín Ortiz Pajuelo, known as Beto Ortiz, for presenting a news report on his program, in which he claimed that he was accused of being the perpetrator of the murder of his former partner Betsabeth Flores Sánchez, despite having been found innocent in two instances. In addition, to mention that the accusation was cut short by the power exercised by Castile at that time.

As a result, the former government official resigned from office just two days after being appointed, not before announcing that he would take legal action against the journalist. After the investigations, Judge Luisa Mónica Noriega Chu of the 12th Single Personal Criminal Court of the Superior Court of Justice in Lima sentenced Ortiz to one year and four months of suspended deprivation of liberty and to the payment of 50,000 soles as civil reparation.

PBO CASE

On January 26, the Public Ministry conducted a judicial action on the radio station PBO 91.9 FM (radio Tigre S.A.C.), in its offices on Cerro Marcavilca in Morro Solar (Chorrillos). The authorities confiscated telecommunications equipment because it did not have an operating license, which prevented the radio from being on the air.

As you know, this is a medium run by the conductor Philip Butters and openly opposed to the government. Butters came out to complain about the break-in.” Some subjects have arrived, they have not identified themselves, wearing vests from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, others with vests from the Prosecutor's Office, have left no notification. They have entered, they have made a lockdown and they took a team. When they told to sign a paper to the guachimán who was there, the gentlemen had not identified themselves and have not left any notification,” he explained during his live program, which was broadcast via social networks.

ACUNA CASE

Although he is not directly a member of the Executive, it is known that César Acuña, leader of the Alliance for Progress party, is close to the Executive. Last January, Judge Jesús Vega, of the 30th Liquidating Criminal Court of the Superior Court of Lima, sentenced journalist Christopher Acosta and Jerónimo Pimentel, director of the Penguin Random House publishing house, to two years in suspended prison following the libel lawsuit filed by Acuña over the publication of the book 'Silver as Cancha'.

In the reading, it was asked that the head of research of Latina pay the amount of 400,000 soles in favor of the leader of the political party Alliance for Progress. The judge indicated that the book goes beyond the limits of freedom of expression and added that Acuña was aggravated, listing a list of phrases he considers defamatory.

MORE CASES OF TENSION WITH THE PRESS

- On May 19, 2021, during a campaign event in the town of Yanama, in the Carmen Alto district, in Huamanga (Ayacucho), Pedro Castillo questioned the “terruqueo” campaigns against him and assured that they will make known how much they earn and who pays the hosts of television programs. He said that it was “necessary” to know where this information came from against him.

“In due course we are going to send some reports that have just reached our hands, how much do those who host television programs earn and who pays them. Let's make knowledge. It is necessary for the people to be informed about so many things, where so much is coming from that and why there is so much terrucheo,” he said at the rally.

- The President of Peru, Pedro Castillo, on November 23, 2021, threatened to leave without state publicity those media that, according to him, misinform and distort reality. Castillo also criticized several media outlets sharing videos of his recent visit to Arequipa, where some people insulted him, rebuked him and demanded his removal.

“I must condemn some disastrous attitudes of some media that have edited that I was alone and that people were asking for vacancy, when it is not true,” Castillo said during his visit to the Chopcca community. “I'm not going to allow myself to give a penny to those who misrepresent reality, to those who don't want to see the people, to those who want to make people believe otherwise,” he added.

- On August 18, 2021, when President Pedro Castillo was on his way to the Municipality of Lima on foot to meet with Mayor Jorge Muñoz, security personnel of the Presidency branded TV Peru reporter, Tifanny Tipiani, to prevent him from asking questions to the president. While the Canal N reporter was able to ask the President some questions and the cameras recorded it while he was on the move.

- On February 21, 2022, the president called the press 'a joke' after a reporter from Radio Exitosa questioned him about the double version he gave to the Public Prosecutor's Office as a witness in the Provias cases and promotions in the Armed Forces.

The reporter asked him if he lied to the Public Prosecutor's Office about the meetings with Karelim Lopez. Castillo replied: “This press is a joke. We are talking about Peruvian education, why don't they focus on the important issues. Let's talk about education, accompany us to see how schools are doing, come with me to see how the children are doing. There are thousands of malnourished children, I am interested in the country. Why don't you come with me to see how things are. I give them mobility and we leave like you. Get out of Lima, Lima is not Peru. Let's see what the country is like.”

- On Thursday, February 24, another serious event occurred. The president attended an event held in the auditorium of the Federation of Civil Construction Workers of Peru, in La Victoria.

The press was placed in the box on the second floor to follow the incidents, however, once the event was over, the security blocked the exit and did not let the journalists out. The incident lasted about five minutes, and it would have been for the purpose of preventing the head of state from being approached by the press. Minutes later they let them out. These events have generated the alarm of journalism-related entities who have raised the alert to these ill-treatment.

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