Twelve assemblymen trips were for presidential tours

Image: El Universo
Twelve trips abroad of Alianza PAIS (AP) assembly members were to join President Rafael Correa on official tours, that represented travel allowances for $ 27,887.50.
The more distant and expensive trip was Correa’s visit to China, from 2 to 11 January 2015. Four legislators traveled: Lautaro Saenz, Marcia Arregui, Fabian Solano and Betty Carrillo, $ 3,420 was the cost of each air ticket.
Assemblyman Ricardo Moncayo (CREO) said that the Assembly has been “used” to accompany the President and various state authorities on international trips “not linked to specific activities of the Legislature.”
According to Section 12, paragraph 18, of the Organic Law for Parliamentary Functions, it is an attribution and function of the President of the Assembly to assume the representation of the Assembly before international organizations and appoint the Assembly members that will represent it.
Source: http://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2016/01/10/nota/5334547/doce-viajes-acompanar-correa-giras