According to Commissioner Liduvina Escobar, these attacks have intensified in recent days as part of the pressure and harassment against him by government-affiliated Commissioners.
Liduvina Escobar, the commissioner of the Institute for Access to Public Information (IAIP), denounced a series of attacks on her by her colleagues for advocating transparency and Salvadorans’ access to public information.
“In recent days, a series of actions against me has intensified as part of a strategy of pressure and intimidation being implemented by Commissioners Ricardo Gómez, Javier Suárez and Commissioner Roxana Soriano,” he said in a statement.
The official explained that she has been isolated from institutional work, has been blocked from accessing information, has been discredited by, among others, IAIP personnel. “This on the grounds that I had a complaint against me against an employee, without having verified the facts and without giving me the right of defense,” he explained.
It also denounces blocking access to internal IAIP information. For example, on 12 April, with the votes of the same holders, it was agreed that all reports generated by the administrative units of the institution should be approved for delivery to plenary.
It also states that the aforementioned commissioners rallied the IAIP staff in attendance to discredit her, by manipulating statements made to the press the day before.
Commissioner Liduvina Escobar confirms that she has been the victim of allegations and isolation during institutional work by three IAIP magistrates. Photo: EDH / Archives
“In that meeting they voiced and accused me that my person is causing instability in the institution and the staff, among other things,” said the Commissioner, clarifying that she had not been called to that meeting, but received a recording of it.
The official reported using legal proceedings as an attack on her, explaining that on March 25, another complaint had been filed against her for an alleged disclosure through her Twitter account of a user’s personal information.
The Commissioner criticized that the IAIP deftly handles and admits the matter, while there are a large number of appeals pending on issues of high impact.
On the other hand, it points to permanent attacks with false accusations against 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 for these actions that she believes “represent a setback in the guarantee of an institution that enforces compliance with the law on access to public information. ”.
Finally, he warned that he would go to the relevant cases for defense and protection.
They report delay
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Administrative Disputes Chamber has not ruled on a lawsuit against the appointment of the Commissioner of the Institute for Access to Public Information (IAIP), Roxana Soriano, due to her affiliation with the New Ideas party, where she pre-candidate for alternate in the primaries ahead of the elections on February 28.
The lawsuit was filed more than a month ago by the National Development Foundation (Funde), which pointed to Soriano’s “lack of independence” to serve as an IAIP commissioner.
From that date, Funde asked the Chamber to remove Soriano from office for as long as the proceedings of the said lawsuit lasted because this threatens the independence of the Institute.
Funde points out, however, that more than a month has passed and the House has not commented.
“What is being compromised here is precisely that there is no full guarantee on the part of the IAIP Commissioners acting independently, that is, the right to access public information is at risk and at stake,” warned Wilson Sandoval. , coordinator of anti-corruption. Legal Advice Center (Alac) of Funde.
The CSJ had no comment.