Loan Peña is not the first child to disappear in the province of Corrientes. Since it became public knowledge that the family was looking for the child, demonstrations began in different provincial towns. The marches are led by teachers, mothers and families who demand the appearance of Loan. In these demonstrations, voices are heard from those who know cases of minors who were kidnapped, and also that the impunity that reigns in the province prevented the fate of these children from being known, much less those responsible for these abductions. These demonstrations hit the radical government.
The governor had high social approval ratings until Loan’s disappearance. The latest poll published by CB Consulting, by Cristian Buttié, points out that Valdés lost 10 points in positive image compared to March of this year. In February 2023, according to the same consultancy, the positive image reached 66.2%. In February of this year, the positive or very positive image of his government remained high at 61.4%. In August 2021 Gustavo Valdés won the elections with 76.90% of the votes.
As the investigation progressed, it revealed the responsibility of state officials in not applying the corresponding protocols. The pressure on Gustavo Valdés increased and forced him to remove the Minister of Security, Buenaventura Duarte, and to remove the head of the police leadership. Before that, Valdés himself tried to intervene in the investigation when he published on Saturday, June 29 on his social network X: “A great step has been taken in the resolution of the Loan Case.” He said this after the mendacious statement of Loan’s aunt became known. Laudelina had testified that Loan had been run over by the former captain of the Armed Forces, Carlos Peréz, who was traveling with his wife María Victoria Caillava, a municipal official, until she was arrested.
The popular protests against Laudelina’s statement succeeded in having that statement dropped, which, if carried out, would close the case, leaving the investigation into Loan’s disappearance unpunished.
The call for Loan is being raised across the country. Popular mobilizations must be intensified. Not only to find Loan, but to put the denunciation against trafficking networks and the complicity of state officials with them on the front page.
Source: www.laizquierdadiario.com
