Investigations into the disappearance of 17 women in various parts of the country are underway said Azael Samaniego, undersecretary of the Public Ministry on Monday, May 9.

Carlos Valencia, director of Judicial Investigation, of the National Police, stressed that so far there is no evidence that the disappearances are related to a criminal organization operating in the country. He added that they are carrying out research work on the cases and asked the population not to publish unsupported data, since this alarms society.

He urged the community to turn over to the authorities any information that gives clues about the location of these people. Figures from the Public Ministry reveal that from April 2021 to now, 46 cases of missing persons have been reported: 29 men and 17 women.

MP statistics also reveal that 440 investigations related to deprivation of liberty were opened and that 398 people have already been located.

Suspect held
In Chiriquí a man is in preventive detention while being investigated in the disappearance of three women in 2021. These are the cases of Anabel Valdivia, 28 years old; Astrid Tugrí, 21,  and Viviana Gallardo, 17. 

They left their residences in search of work but never returned. The person is also linked to the disappearance of Verónica Arcia, in 2012. For the three cases of 2021, on May 3, the Homicide and Femicide Section of the Chiriquí Regional Prosecutor's Office requested a hearing to charge a 48-year-old man for the alleged commission of crimes against property and deprivation of liberty.

Suky Yard, from the Vida Mujer Foundation, described the way in which the issue is being handled as “regrettable”, as, the State is failing, above all, in providing women with security.  She also criticized the statements made by the Minister of Security, Juan Pino, who said last weekend that "many women disappear because they leave their partners."

Sociologist Rebeca Yanis, from the Federation of Professional Associations of Panama, said that as a result of the covid-19 pandemic there was "a setback in the values ​​of the population." and the health crisis intensified cases of femicide, domestic violence, and abuse.