IT TOOK  the beleaguered Rector of the University of Panama  Gustavo García de Paredes  five days to respond to the  revelation from the nations comptroller of  $3.5 million economic damage to the state from contracts he issued.

He  broke his silence  on  Tuesday May 24  to say there is a "campaign" to "denigrate this noble institution."

At a press conference in front of  of professors, administrators and students.

in the José Dolores Auditorium, the rector said that recent media reports about the school are "an attack upon the institution, because it is dedicated to helping people with limited resources."

Referring to the audit, he said it is "a report that lacks any veracity, and aims to do harm."

According to the comptroller, who has already given the audit to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Court of Auditors, anomalies that caused damage to the state of  were in contracts to build research centers initiated by the rector. The original cost of the project was $4.5 million, but wound up costing $15.5 million.

According to the rector, the decision to increase the scope of the project was justified.

He also criticized La Prensa, which in recent months has published a series of investigations of a number of anomalies during his term.

"There is a direct connection between the comptroller and the newspaper. Every day there is negative news," he said, and promised  he would take legal action in the matter.