{"id":18773,"date":"2026-11-13T16:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T21:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18773"},"modified":"2026-11-13T10:57:35","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:57:35","slug":"stating-the-obvious-security-minister-downplays-remarks-by-former-prison-director","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/stating-the-obvious-security-minister-downplays-remarks-by-former-prison-director\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Stating the Obvious&#8221;: Security Minister Downplays Remarks by Former Prison Director"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PANAMA CITY , Public Security Minister Frank \u00c1brego pushed back Wednesday against criticism over the <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/chilling-manhunt-ends-as-18-year-old-killer-captured-in-panama\/\" rel=\"internal\">National Police<\/a> presence inside Panama&#8217;s prisons, arguing that the force has filled a security vacuum created by an incomplete 18-year-old law that was meant to give the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">penitentiary system control<\/a> over custodial duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The minister&#8217;s remarks came one day after former penitentiary system director Chanan Singh questioned the continued deployment of police officers as prison guards, a role \u00c1brego said the law never fully transferred to civilian custodians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cDescubri\u00f3 el agua tibia\u201d, fue la respuesta del ministro de Seguridad Frank \u00c1brego, al exdirector del Sistema Penitenciario Chanan Singh, quien denunci\u00f3 el control de la Polic\u00eda en las c\u00e1rceles. https:\/\/t.co\/6ZtnSh5hKJ<\/p>&mdash; Destino Panam\u00e1 (@destinopanama_) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/destinopanama_\/status\/2120921706458231131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 12, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Penitentiary System Control Remains Incomplete<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00c1brego said the legal framework governing <strong>penitentiary system control<\/strong> has never been fully implemented since it was enacted nearly two decades ago. &#8220;Eighteen years ago the National Police should have left the prisons according to law,&#8221; \u00c1brego said. &#8220;The law has not been completed as such, and instead of the penitentiary system having greater control over the prisons, the National Police is the one that has had to enter and assume the role of police custodians in the great majority of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prisonstudies.org\/country\/panama\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Panamanian prisons<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The minister defended the work of uniformed officers inside <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/2-detained-in-panama-national-park-for-illegal-mining-operations\/\" rel=\"internal\">detention facilities<\/a> and dismissed Singh&#8217;s allegations of irregularities as nothing new. &#8220;Did he discover warm water?&#8221; \u00c1brego said. &#8220;We, since before he was penitentiary director, every day, every month, every week carry out search operations in the different cellblocks of all the prisons in Panama.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/34-xoptimizadax-1350x900-1200x800-1.webp\" alt=\"Despite the fatalities, the organizations say no official reaction has come from prison authorities.\" class=\"wp-image-18758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/34-xoptimizadax-1350x900-1200x800-1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/34-xoptimizadax-1350x900-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Despite the fatalities, the organizations say no official reaction has come from prison authorities.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Corruption Inside Prison Walls Acknowledged<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00c1brego did concede that some <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/cash-in-shoe-boxes-panamas-tocumen-airport-seizes-117k-in-smuggling-case\/\" rel=\"internal\">security personnel<\/a> have been compromised by criminal networks operating from within the prison system. He acknowledged that police officers, prison custodians, and penitentiary system officials have all been found collaborating with detainees in illegal activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Are there police officers who collaborate with this? Yes. Are there penitentiary custodians who do it? Of course there are. Are there officials of the penitentiary system who also collaborate with these detainees? Of course there are. It is a constant fight,&#8221; \u00c1brego stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gemini-generated-image-vdyi9xvdyi9xvdyi-1200x800-1.webp\" alt=\"The Panama prison crisis deepened Tuesday when Chanan Singh resigned as director of the General Directorate of the Penitentiary System after just four months in office.\" class=\"wp-image-18754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gemini-generated-image-vdyi9xvdyi9xvdyi-1200x800-1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gemini-generated-image-vdyi9xvdyi9xvdyi-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Panama prison crisis deepened Tuesday when Chanan Singh resigned as director of the General Directorate of the Penitentiary System after just four months in office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prisoner Transfers Require Director Approval<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the matter of inmate transfers, which have been a point of contention in recent weeks, \u00c1brego maintained that no prisoner can be moved without proper authorization. &#8220;Without the signature of the directors as such, no transfer can be carried out,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The controversy over police involvement in prison operations has reignited debate about Panama&#8217;s long-delayed transition to a civilian-run corrections model. Security analysts note that the continued reliance on National Police personnel inside prisons reflects deeper structural problems in the country&#8217;s penitentiary administration, including budget shortfalls and chronic understaffing of civilian custodial ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Singh&#8217;s departure from the penitentiary system director post and his subsequent public comments have drawn attention to persistent governance challenges within Panama&#8217;s prison network, where overcrowding and organized crime influence remain pressing concerns for the new administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/Dfpp-FXGjll\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">Ver esta publicaci\u00f3n en Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/Dfpp-FXGjll\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Una publicaci\u00f3n compartida por La Prensa Panama\u0301 (@prensacom)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PANAMA CITY , Public Security Minister Frank \u00c1brego pushed back Wednesday against criticism over the National Police presence inside Panama&#8217;s prisons, arguing that the force has filled a security vacuum created by an incomplete 18-year-old law that was meant to give the penitentiary system control over custodial duties. The minister&#8217;s remarks came one day after<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":18774,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31,29],"tags":[50,7029,7901,3061,7886],"class_list":["post-18773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-crime-safety","category-politics-government","tag-panama","tag-police","tag-police-custodians","tag-prison-security","tag-prisons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18773"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18773\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18775,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18773\/revisions\/18775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}