The plenary session of the Santa Cruz City Council proceeded seamlessly yesterday, with nearly unanimous endorsement of the proposals put forward by the municipal factions. There seemed to be a notable calm between the parties, which only intensified during discussions on matters such as gender violence, particularly following VOX’s refusal to back the institutional motion, or in light of the request for a declaration of harmfulness in a voidable act sought by the governing team concerning the Juernes de Hotel initiative, which has ultimately led to administrative proceedings.
However, a significant moment arose in the plenary hall during the question period, when the socialists put forth inquiries regarding the actions taken by the councillor for Security and Emergencies, Gladis de León, subsequent to the provisional detention on the 19th of the head of Civil Protection, Santiago Martín, who faces allegations of facilitating clandestine immigration and committing ongoing acts of sexual assault and harassment.
The PSOE spokesperson, Patricia Hernández, initiated the first challenge by questioning the councillor on the rationale behind allowing Martín to reclaim his post, a position from which he had been dismissed during her tenure as mayor, a role he regained following a motion of censure. “Despite the strength of the reports and testimonies known to those who permitted it,” the socialist remarked.
In response, De León stated, “he returned because he requested it, and at that moment, there were no regulations preventing his re-entry.” Hernández countered by recalling that “in September 2019, the detainee was dismissed, regardless of the declarations of support made by the mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, or the CC spokesperson, José Alberto Díaz Estébanez, when testimonies indicating sexual abuse had already emerged, which led to his suspension prior to any sentencing, just as you have now done.”
The socialist highlighted that following this dismissal, an external report was commissioned to assess the psychosocial risks within Civil Protection, which, through the accounts of four witnesses, confirmed that abuses had occurred when they were minors. “In January 2020, the report was submitted, and the city council proceeded to file a complaint in court, which was dropped due to insufficient evidence as three individuals declined to testify. Despite this, Bermúdez and Councillor Evelyn Alonso proposed retaining both the aggressor and the victim in the same environment and allowing him to lead Civil Protection, despite the known circumstances.”
De León asserted that “when Martín was reinstated, it was based on a ruling from Court No. 2 of Santa Cruz, which issued a dismissal and closure of the case. What is documented is a report regarding the working environment in the force post-events, but it does not mention any crime.” She reproached Hernández, saying, “you dismissed him on September 12, 2019, citing the modernisation of the Civil Protection group. However, if that report truly existed and aligns with what you appear to know, yet it cannot be found, then it was you who compromised the safety of that service’s personnel by allowing him to remain in position as a volunteer until October 2020.”
The socialist termed it “false” that the councillor claimed to be unaware of the report, positing that “the City Council was offered shares in that context,” to which De León reiterated, “the serious matter is that you possess a ‘secret’ report of which I am unaware.” Subsequently, the socialist, Florentino Guzmán, intervened, making serious accusations against the nationalists, which he later retracted after being admonished.