IN THE FACE of rising criticism President Juan Carlos Varela  continues to side-step the issue of absconding Panama Canal (ACP) board member Nicolás Corcione.

On Monday evening, September 22   he  avoided commenting on Corcione’s future.

The runaway is under investigation for money laundering and his whereabouts remain unknown reports La Prensa.

"I will only speak on the subject of water," said Varela as he arrived at the Sheraton Hotel to participate in a conference on water organized by the Latin American Institute for Advanced Studies.

The president has been under increasing pressure to remove Corcione from the board due to his accumulated absences from meetings.

Varela has said that he will allow the courts to handle the case without any interference from the executive. But ACP rules state that directors may be suspended or removed for missing multiple meetings by the president with the approval of the Cabinet Council and the legislature says La Prensa.

Varela will travel to the United States to attend a General Assembly meeting of the United Nations to hear an address by Pope Francis.

He said the issue may be debated when he returns.

"I want to hold a debate on this issue because the decision is one that must be made together," Varela said.

ACP directors such as Adolfo Ahumada, Elías Castillo and Ricardo de la Espriella have called on Varela to remove Corcione considering the negative light the investigation has cast on the Panama Canal and the fact that the board is considering a number of crucial issues.

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