Direct purchases in Defense are ‘an open card to steal’, warns Jorge Cálix

The deputy and presidential candidate for the Liberal Party (PL), Jorge Cálix , described the recent authorization granted to the Secretary of Defense and presidential candidate, Rixi Moncada , to make direct purchases from the agency, within the framework of the fight against organized crime, as an “open letter to steal.”

The congressman expressed his concerns about the motivation and use of resources assigned to the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena) , which is headed by Moncada, also a presidential candidate for the ruling party Liberty and Refoundation ( Libre ).

In his statements during a political rally , Jorge Cálix pointed out that the measure of allowing direct purchases from Rixi Moncada in Sedena would allow the use of public resources for electoral purposes .

“It is an open letter to steal . The Ministry of Defense, which is headed by a candidate who has to submit her applications on November 8th – in less than two weeks – will be given an open letter to buy,” questioned the congressman, who suggested that the funds could be used to finance Moncada’s campaign .

“What’s going on here? They’re planning to use the money for the campaign. That’s for sure,” he said.

In this regard, the Liberal legislator also criticized the lack of clarity regarding the objectives of the acquisitions and questioned the role of the Armed Forces in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking.

“Are they fighting the gangs ? Answer: no. Are they fighting drug trafficking ? Answer: no; in fact, they removed extradition ,” questioned Cálix.

‘Less transparency’, he questioned

On the other hand, Cálix also regretted that the current administration, headed by President Xiomara Castro, “has lost all credibility” and “is even less transparent than the previous government,” stating that this government does not publish information about purchases made on the transparency portal.

“What is worrying about this government, which has lost all credibility and which talked so much about transparency, is that it is even less transparent than the previous government, which published its irregularities on transparency portals . These ones don’t even do that; they refuse to upload their purchases on the transparency portal ,” Cálix said.

“What is worrying is that they make direct purchases, and that half is for the campaign and the other half for the commander,” he concluded.

Origin of executive agreement 190-2024

Cálix’s reactions come after the publication of Executive Agreement 190-2024 in the official newspaper La Gaceta on Friday, October 25.

This agreement grants Rixi Moncada the power to award and sign contracts for the acquisition of goods, services, and consultancies, necessary for the operational functioning of the Honduran Armed Forces under the so-called Crime Solution Plan .

This provision is part of an order issued by President Xiomara Castro on September 3, aimed at providing the Armed Forces with tools and technology to combat organized crime and drug trafficking.

According to the official text, the State Procurement Law allows direct contracting in exceptional cases where confidentiality or specialization is required to carry out strategic state operations.

Powers and scope of the agreement

According to what was published in La Gaceta , the executive agreement enables Moncada to urgently and directly manage the resources necessary to intervene in municipalities with high crime rates .

It also establishes that acquisitions must comply with the requirements of the State Contracting Law, including audits and other legal provisions. The measure will be in effect for one year and will continue the projects previously initiated in February 2024 under executive agreement 002-2024 , the objective of which is to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking.

In response to concerns about the use of funds , the decree establishes that all signed contracts will be reported to the Superior Court of Accounts (TSC) within a maximum period of 10 business days after the signing of each contract, in order to guarantee transparency in the management of public resources