According to Commissioner Liduvina Escobar, in recent days these attacks have intensified as part of pressure and harassment against him by government-related commissioners.
The commissioner of the Institute for Access to Public Information (IAIP), Liduvina Escobar, denounced a series of attacks against her by her colleagues, as she is in favor of transparency and Salvadorans’ access to public information.
“A number of actions against me have intensified in recent days as part of a strategy of pressure and harassment by Commissioners Ricardo Gómez, Javier Suárez and Commissioner Roxana Soriano,” he said in a statement.
The official explained that he suffered isolation from institutional activity, blocking access to information, discrediting IAIP staff, among others. “This with the argument of having a complaint against me against an employee, without verifying the facts and without granting me the right to defense,” he explained.
It also denounces the blocking of access to IAIP internal information. For example, on 12 April, with the votes of the same holder mentioned, it was agreed that all reports generated by the administrative units of the institution be approved for delivery in plenary.
It is also noted that the aforementioned commissioners gathered the IAIP staff present to discredit them, manipulating the statements made to the press the day before.
Commissioner Liduvina Escobar states that she was the victim of accusations and isolation in the institutional activity of three IAIP magistrates. Photo: EDH / Archive
“At that meeting, they expressed to me and accused me of creating instability in the institution and staff, among other things,” said the commissioner, who said she was not called to the meeting but received a recording of its.
The official reported on the use of legal proceedings as an attack on her, stating that on March 25, another complaint was filed against her for an alleged disclosure through her Twitter account of a user’s personal data.
The Commissioner criticized the fact that the IAIP handles the case with agility, acknowledging it when there are a large number of appeals on high-impact issues.
On the other hand, it highlights permanent attacks with false accusations on relations with the press and civil society.
The Commissioner calls on civil society organizations, the press, international cooperation and human rights organizations to be vigilant in these actions, which, in his view, “mark a step backwards in ensuring that there is an institution to monitor compliance with the Law on Access to Public Information”. ”.
Finally, he warned that he would go to the relevant courts in his defense and protection.
They report delays
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s Administrative Litigation Chamber did not rule on a lawsuit against the appointment of Roxana Soriano, commissioner of the Institute for Access to Public Information (IAIP), for her connection to the New Ideas party, where she was running for deputy. primary before the February 28 elections.
The lawsuit was filed more than a month ago by the National Development Foundation (Funde), which highlighted Soriano’s “lack of independence” in order to act as IAIP commissioner.
Since then, Funde has asked the Chamber to remove Soriano from office while the trial lasts, as it threatens the Institute’s independence.
However, Funde points out that more than a month has passed and the Chamber has not commented.
“What is affected here is the fact that there is no full guarantee from IAIP commissioners acting independently, ie the right to access public information is in jeopardy and is at stake,” warned Wilson Sandoval, Anticorruption Coordinator. Funde Legal Advice Center (Alac).
The SCJ had no comment.