Laura Sarabia, administrative director of the Presidency and right-hand woman of President Gustavo Petro, responded to the right of public petition that journalist María Jimena Duzán addressed to her and her brother, Andrés Sarabia, in an opinion column in Cambio Magazine.
In a long writing, published by Cambio, Sarabia referred to the questions that the journalist made about the alleged links between both of them with an illegal recruitment network, as stated in some chats that were revealed by Desigual and El Colombiano, and that put to the almighty Petro government in a new controversy.
The keys to what he said:
“Versions circulate without an ethical account, as if they were true.” Sarabia questioned the press, the information circulating in the media and on social networks. He also to freedom of expression, which he considers has been “blurred” to attack “the honor and good name of anyone who is the target of dark, corrupt or greedy interests.”
“They are insinuations from an opinion maker.” Sarabia launched Pullas to journalist María Jimena Duzán, who said that “all the officials who have tried to put a finger on him end up being branded as corrupt and traitors.”
“I want to clarify in one of the media that still does journalism: despite the disrespect and insinuations of an opinion member, I only transmit the president’s instructions,” he said. “Insinuating that I have removed officials for investigating me not only seems serious to me because of the aforementioned, but because it exposes the usurpation of functions that only correspond to justice,” he continued.
“My brother cannot be charged with any crime.” Sarabia defended his brother, accused of allegedly allying with businessmen and public officials to collect bribes in million-dollar contracts and lobby Congress.
“Today my brother cannot be charged with any crime, abuse or enrichment, since there is only evidence that he works in the private sector, without ties or negotiations with the Government,” he said. “His “his crime,” apparently, is being my brother and, perhaps, having attended a couple of social gatherings above the social stratum to which, without any shame, we belong,” he concluded.
He also made it clear that as of August 29, 2023, he resigned from ALA Consulting, the company he created with his brother and which was questioned.
Yesterday, President Petro defended his right hand man. The president also went against journalist María Jimena Duzán. She said her column “is disrespectful.” And he brought in the director of Semana Magazine, Vicky Dávila, his opponent.
“Following Vicky (Dávila)’s career is a path of mistakes and lies. Insinuating that I exchange positions in my government for advice (sic) is truly disrespectful to myself. Semana magazine already disrespects me a lot, but I don’t expect it from María Jimena (Duzán),” said Petro.
