Ecuadornews:
The Head of State urged the Armed Forces to take greater action in the fight against arms trafficking and smuggling in the country. Security and the fight against smuggling were the axes of the speech offered by the President of the Republic, Lenin Moreno, in commemoration for the 190 years of the battle of Portete de Tarqui in the Eloy Alfaro Military High School.
The President made the call to strengthen security on the northern border, in view of the events that occurred at the beginning of last year and the presence of organized gangs operating in the sector. “The sovereignty is also the fight against contraband, the control of weapons, to ensure that the territory does not fall into the hands of crime,” said the Head of State.
He advanced that the Armed Forces will act within the framework of their competences. “They will participate in a much more active way in these fundamental tasks, because they are tasks that our compatriots ask of us.” Previously, the General Commander of the Army, Gen.
Javier Pérez Rodríguez, recalled that “bad elements” have been discovered in the armed ranks. He said this in reference to the six soldiers accused of allegedly selling arms and ammunition to Óliver Sinisterra’s criminal network, led by the dejected alias “Guacho.” “However, we are not exempt from mistakes; certain people already identified by the justice system, with interests other than service, deviated from their training, “the official argued.
Against this he ratified his support to the 25,160 soldiers distributed in 4 divisions, 66 brigades and 65 detachments in the international political limit. “We know the economic needs of the country, despite them we are still committed to developing our capabilities (…); We are in a process of transformation.
For this, the removal of equipment and weapons is not enough; the human element is vital, “he said. In response, the Executive recalled the investment made in his two years of management. “Despite the crisis inherited in 2018, we allocated more than $ 2,500 million to the Armed Forces.”
According to the Executive figures, this item was used in 99.42%, the highest budgetary execution of the state entities. The event included the parade of “peace bands”, composed of students from six emblematic schools in the capital and the parade of the volunteer women’s squad. (I)
Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/politica/3/moreno-apoyo-ejercito
