Assembly will investigate the “tithe” of the advisers

Ecuadornews:

The legislator Fabricio Villamar will present the complaint about these charges. The banks support an investigation. On Thursday, September 6, a resolution will be voted on. In the chats of workers and ex-members of the Assembly they call it “tithe”.

It is the payment that, apparently, some legislators received from their collaborators. So far none of those affected has filed their claim publicly. They prefer anonymity and say they have given cash for the game; that they demanded the payment of contracts in advertising on social networks; the purchase of air tickets and food for legislators.

All this just to keep their charges. In their conversations the officials of the Legislative Power confess: “It happens commonly, but because it is common it cannot be accepted and normalized”. While another answers: “I prefer the fee to not have a job”. And another stresses: “Is that the protest is synonymous with dismissal.” “It is repudiable, because you talk about the struggle of corruption and they are the first generators.

But seen from the employee, you allow it because you want to work and that is a ‘tithe’ for the opportunity they give you, “says an official who also did not want to identify himself. The first step to discover this fact occurred in the office of legislator Fabricio Villamar (CREO). From there, Pablo Santillán, who works at the Assembly for more than 25 years, asked his colleagues to present their complaints and thus strengthen.

The first call was made through social networks and the response was immediate. In a short time they received complaints from those affected by the payments. Until this Tuesday, September 4, the assembly’s team collected the information of the injured parties, such as photos, payment vouchers and transfers made to the legislators’ accounts.

These data will serve to support a resolution to the plenary session of the Assembly, with the intention that the Comptroller’s Office will investigate the accounts of the legislators and thus verify if they received the “tithes” of their workers.

Villamar was on Tuesday, September 4 in the United States, but plans to present that resolution tomorrow, so that it will be approved on Tuesday of next week. In principle there is consensus in the Assembly to start with this investigation.

The president of the Legislative Branch, Elizabeth Cabezas, gave her support so that the Comptroller’s Office audits the accounts. She maintained that her office has not yet reached any official demand, but that she spoke with Fabricio Villamar, who told her that she was preparing the resolution. “If we talk about the fight against corruption is one of our pillars, we could not allow acts like these to take place in our house,” she reflected.

Lenín Plaza (PAIS), María Mercedes Cuesta (PRE) and Luis Fernando Torres (PSC) also support the investigation. The three agreed that the complaints should be clarified. While, the legislator Elíseo Azuero stressed that it is necessary to implement the draft Code of Ethics that he presented to his colleagues, but that is not yet discussed.

He explained that promoting a code is not new in the region and that in several Latin American congresses there are committees that ensure that the behavior of the assembly members is framed in rules and regulations that limit abuse of authority and influence peddling. So far, the work of Assemblyman Villamar and his team includes only denunciations within this legislative period. That is, the assembly members who began their duties in May of last year. The collection of these “fees” comes from a long time ago. Collaborators left their posts under pressure from lawmakers to pay the “tithes,” says one of the accusers. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/politica/3/diezmo-asesores-investigacion-asamblea-nacional