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WORLD NEWSThursday 18 February 2016

Colombia’s police chief resigns over sexual misconduct probe

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) general opened an admin- orability,” Palomino said But the most damning fought accusations by a
— The head of Colombia’s istrative probe into the ac- surrounded by his family charges, which have mo- former colonel that he
police resigned Wednes- cusations, which surfaced and high-ranking officers. nopolized public attention abused his position for sex-
day amid accusations of in the media late last year. “Human beings are never the past few days, are Pal- ual favors years ago.
illegal enrichment and sex- Palomino, in this third year above the institutions they omino’s alleged participa- In announcing the probe
ual misconduct with young as police chief, reiterated serve.” tion in a male prostitution Tuesday, Inspector Gener-
cadets that threatened to his innocence at a press The accusations against ring, dubbed the “Com- al Alejandro Ordonez said
tarnish the reputation of conference and said the Palomino range from his munity of the Ring” by lo- authorities obtained testi-
one of the South American charges are part of a cam- purchase of a luxury home cal media, that allegedly mony and a videotaped
nation’s most-prestigious in- paign to slander him. outside Bogota that was forced entry-level cadets conversation from 2008 be-
stitutions. “I can’t allow that because apparently incompatible to cater to high-ranking of- tween a then-senator and
Gen. Rodolfo Palomino’s of an investigation against with his police salary and ficers and even members police captain that it said
resignation came a day the director, doubts be alleged illegal wiretaps of congress. corroborates existence of
after Colombia’s inspector cast on the police’s hon- against journalists. Palomino has for months the prostitution ring.q

Puerto Rico mulls debt moratorium, other options amid crisis

The U.S. flag flies in front of Puerto Rico’s Capitol in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This week the govern- The announcement came with $72 billion in public
ment released a long-awaited draft of its financial report that warns of solvency issues as it pushes just hours after the gov- debt that the governor has
to obtain a restructuring mechanism from U.S. Congress to deal with its public debt. ernment released a long- said is unpayable. Some
awaited financial report Republican legislators had
(AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo) that said there is “substan- demanded to see the fi-
tial doubt” the island’s nancial report, which is 10
DANICA COTO worsening economic crisis, Santana. “The government public agencies can keep months overdue and has
Associated Press officials said Wednesday. lacks the money needed operating under current not yet been audited.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) These and other emer- to keep providing essential fiscal constraints. The 370- Treasury Secretary Juan
— Puerto Rico may suspend gency measures are being services ... and meet debt page report released Tues- Zaragoza said Wednesday
debt payments and order considered as the govern- payments due on May 1 day said the Government that an audited version
independent agencies ment’s liquidity continues and June 1. It’s a fact,” she Development Bank, which would be available in up-
to take over some public to dwindle, said Guberna- said, referring to the more is the local government’s coming months and said
corporations to confront a torial Chief of Staff Grace than $1.1 billion due soon. main source of short-term there is nothing in the finan-
liquidity, could run out of cial statement that people
money to operate and already didn’t know.
honor its obligations. It also Gov. Alejandro Garcia Pa-
said that the island’s retire- dilla criticized some U.S.
ment systems could soon legislators for not acting
collapse. The report found on Puerto Rico’s crisis be-
that the government’s defi- cause it had not released
cit increased by $2.5 bil- its financial statement.
lion in fiscal year 2014 for “The risk of Congress not
a total of $49.2 billion, in providing such framework,
part because of higher op- which costs nothing to U.S.
erating expenses and an taxpayers, is condemn-
increase in liabilities includ- ing Puerto Rico to a legal
ing bonds. Meanwhile, the morass that will jeopardize
government’s net position essential services for U.S.
decreased by $1.7 billion citizens living in Puerto Rico,
during that period. further accelerate outmi-
Puerto Rico has been pres- gration to the U.S. main-
suring the U.S. Congress land and severely impair
to obtain a restructuring creditors’ ability to recover
mechanism to help it cope on their claims,” he said.q

Key Venezuela opposition leader calls for recall of Maduro

HANNAH DREIER sition, previously stopped in — their attempt to deny A voter referendum may Maduro’s approval ratings
Associated Press short of calling for Madu- Maduro emergency pow- be a longer and more risky have languished in the 20
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ro’s ouster. ers to death with the econ- path, but Capriles said it is percent range for most of
— The Venezuelan opposi- Maduro has been on a omy. one the government will be his term,
tion’s top vote-getter is call- collision course with op- Congress has been weigh- forced to recognize. but a recall referendum is
ing for a recall referendum position leaders since crit- ing several options for “Now is the time,” he said. no sure thing. The opposi-
against President Nicolas ics of Venezuela’s socialist removing Maduro from “They will not be able to tion would need to gather
Maduro. government took control office, including shorten- overturn a referendum.” nearly 4 million signatures to
Two-time presidential can- of Congress in January for ing his term, and calling a A governor who narrowly trigger the recall process. If
didate Henrique Capriles the first time in more than a constitutional referendum. lost to Maduro in the last a vote is called, winning a
called for a referendum decade. But many fear that the Su- presidential election in simple majority will not be
to oust the socialist leader Last week, the Supreme preme Court, which has 2013, Capriles leads the op- enough. The opposition will
Wednesday. Capriles, who Court overturned the one never ruled against the ex- position party that won a need to surpass the num-
leads the more moderate decision Congress has ecutive branch, would sim- plurality of seats in the new ber of votes Maduro won in
wing of Venezuela’s oppo- made since being sworn ply overturn these efforts. Congress. 2013. q