PRESIDENT RICARDO MARTINELLI’S personal supervision of the search of a North Korean ship detained in Manzanillo is drawing criticism at home and abroad.

He has been accused locally of grandstanding and acting like a schoolboy as he Twittered pictures of outdated Cuban military items on their way to North Korea for repair, but his actions may be backfiring.

Last Thursday, the Argentine daily Clarin published an article criticizing Martinelli for his actions in the investigation, saying he was looking to benefit politically from the event.
"He saw the opportunity to get out in the international news," the newspaper said.
On Friday, the Los Angeles Times published an analysis that concluded that the raid was more a drama than danger.
 It said that Martinelli likes to appear and participate in major seizures like this as it gives him the opportunity to stage a public relations event. Meanwhile, as details of the contents of the containers carrying the Cuban “arms” the story quickly disappeared from news outlets around the world, but on Tuesday, July 23 Panama’s Foreign Minister Fernando Núñez Fábrega stepped forward to defend the actions of the president Ricardo Martinelli in involving the freighter Chong Chon Gang.
"[Martinelli] had an obligation to be there and monitor what was taking place," said Nuñez Fabrega, He emphasized that the president is responsible for foreign policy and the legal representative of the country. So, it would be absurd that he not be on the scene for a first-hand look at the vessel and not rely on third-party reports.
According to Núñez Fábrega, what has bothered his opponents is that Martinelli has taken a leading role on this issue. But the chancellor said the president "cannot simply sit in the palace and be told what is happening."
The president has commented and given details of the investigation on his Twitter account, says La Prensa,
Last Friday the president dropped everything to rush to Amador where a plane from the Pearl Islands had crash landed with no injuries to passengers