A wave of public outrage over corruption cases involving million-dollar misappropriation of funds, especially at the Social Security Institute (IPS) and municipal administrations, has pressured the Paraguayan justice system for a more solid and effective response. The widespread perception is that the fight against impunity encounters an insufficient state structure.
Criminal lawyer Esther Roa, leader of the Coordinadora de Abogados del Paraguay (Coapy) and the Somos Anticorrupción Paraguay front, assesses that there is no effective state policy against corruption. She points out that the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office operates with limited capacity: few specialized prosecutors, lack of infrastructure, technology, and adequate human resources for the complexity of these crimes. "Many complaints don't even reach effective investigation," she stated.
Roa highlighted that even after a complaint gains public notoriety, as occurred in the IPS case, the path to conviction is uncertain. Complex processes can remain paralyzed for years and end up expiring. "When a corruption case expires, we should ask why this occurred and who allowed it," she questioned, urging the Supreme Court of Justice to be more transparent about audits of processes that become extinct.
As an example of the delays, she cited the case of former governor Óscar "Ñoño" Núñez, convicted in first instance, where a resolution of an appeal that by law should have been judged in 15 days has been awaited for almost three years. She observes that while some cases advance, others remain stagnant, regardless of the political party color of the accused, which ultimately favors impunity.
In this context, the recent indictment by the Public Prosecutor's Office against nine people linked to IPS, including former presidents Vicente Bataglia and Jorge Brítez, was received as progress, but also with caution. The investigation examines an alleged damage of about 61 billion guaranis to public funds in the failed project for reconditioning and installation of modular operating rooms for the Central Hospital of the institute.
Elvio Brun, vice president of the National Union of Retirees of Paraguay (UNJP), celebrated the step taken by the justice system, recalling that retirees have been denouncing irregularities at IPS for some time. However, he was emphatic in stating that the process cannot be limited to criminal sanctions. "We want the money to return to IPS," he declared, demanding full recovery of the misappropriated funds.
For Brun, the 61 billion guaranis represent an amount that could have been used to improve hospital infrastructure, purchase medications, and provide direct care to insured persons. The group's expectation is that there will be rigorous monitoring of the case so it doesn't get lost in the pile of processes and that, once responsibility is proven, the accused also respond civilly to repair the patrimonial damage caused to the social security institution.