Guatemala President Expresses Outrage Over Police Killings

The bodies of two of the ten police officers killed last Sunday in Guatemala were laid to rest this Tuesday in the west of the Central American country, while President Bernardo Arévalo de León expressed his indignation at the failures of the Ministry of Public (Prosecutor's Office) against the alleged hitmen. However, the Guatemalan president, Bernardo Arévalo de León, denounced on Monday night that the Ministry of Public has provided judicial protection to some of the accused in the murders. "Instead of rigorously pursuing those who cowardly murdered the agents of the National Civil Police, the Ministry of Public chose to protect them, only asking that they be charged with carrying weapons and drugs, ignoring the serious crimes linked to their terrorist acts," stated the president. The government of Arévalo de León and the gangs Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha have been in a dispute since last year, when the authorities transferred the leaders of the criminal structures to a high-security prison called 'Renovación I' and ceased their privileges in previous administrations. President's complaint Some of the nine alleged gang members detained as supposed hitmen of the massacre were brought before a judge on Monday afternoon, and the rest could continue their first statement today or tomorrow. "She (Muñoz Ramos) joined the police with the great desire to get her family ahead," Manuel Godoy, the agent's brother-in-law, told EFE. The ten murdered police officers, including one who died in the last hours after remaining two days in serious condition, were attacked on Sunday by alleged gang members in retaliation for the authorities taking control of three prisons where riots were registered on Saturday. Arévalo de León pointed out that the Ministry of Public, under the command of the Attorney General, Consuelo Porras, sanctioned by the United States and the European Union under strong accusations of corruption for three years, only accused the alleged murderers of the police of minor crimes. "It is an insult to the murdered police, their families, the people of Guatemala," the ruler stated through his official communication channels. Medrano Pernillo, 26, was laid to rest in the municipality of San José Acatempa, while Muñoz Ramos (28), in the municipality El Jícaro, where she was buried in the afternoon. The coffin of Muñoz Ramos was accompanied by about 500 people. Due to the wave of violence, Arévalo de León declared a state of siege on Sunday night that will extend for 30 days and allows authorities to make arrests without a judicial order. In this regard, the Ministry of Public indicated in a press release that "the criminal process is in its initial stages" and that this "does not exempt" it from other charges. Through tears, the relatives of Frallan Medrano Pernillo and Claudia Muñoz Ramos said their last goodbye in the department (province) of Jutiapa, about 120 kilometers west of Guatemala City. The attacks took place in a coordinated manner on Sunday morning in different points of Guatemala City. One of the nine detained for the massacre, identified as Harol Salguero, 19, was presented before a judge on Monday, but was only accused of possession of weapons and promotion of drug addiction. "I do not recommend this pain to anyone." "There are no words to express this great pain," he said sadly. Also a neighbor of the agent in Jutiapa, who identified himself as Marvin, told EFE that she was "a person dedicated to service" and that he had planned at some point "to change jobs".