In the introduction to his speech to the people of Soacha, President Gustavo Petro revealed that Laura Sarabia, director of Dapre and one of his closest officials, was absent from the event because she is hospitalized. The president excused her and pointed out that the reason for her hospitalization has to do with the controversy generated by the accusations against her brother, Andrés Sarabia.
“Laura Sarabia, the director of Dapre, could not accompany us here, because she had to be hospitalized yesterday. She even went to intensive care”indicated the president, who later related this fact to the controversy: “has suffered a violent attack via chains and networks that the press has made official, turning them into news without investigating.”
The president came out in defense of his official and his brother. “Unfounded criticism. When you read all the supposed investigations there is nothing beyond the struggle of a boy trying to survive what he likes, which is private administration, never public”said the president, adding that there is no evidence showing any irregularity.
He then pointed out that all these accusations against Sarabia and his brother have to do with an attempt to directly attack him as President. “They take the honor of a person and a boy who has nothing to do with us to simply make the President look corrupt, I am not and I will not be,” he added.
The Andrés Sarabia controversy
Since last week, reports began to circulate in the press about Andrés Sarabia allegedly taking advantage of his sister’s position to establish patronage networks. According to these reports, he used a company he created with his sister – which he resigned from when he returned to the Government – to generate contacts with the Government.
This was denied by Sarabia herself, who announced legal action against those who have spread such information. She, like the President, has said that there is no further information to verify the rumours that began on WhatsApp chains.
