The head of the National Police of Peru (PNP), Óscar Arriola, has announced his resignation amid criticism of the rise in crime in the country, after which the government of Keiko Fujimori announced that Fredy López Mendoza, until now chief of the General Staff of the force, will be put in charge of the organization.
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The Peruvian Prime Minister, Luis Galarreta, stated from the Government Palace that “General Fredy López Mendoza of the National Police will be appointed to replace General Arriola in the corresponding position.” “This appointment also addresses a transfer, I repeat, institutional,” he said.
Galarreta stated that the State “cannot allow” the challenge of crime and emphasized that “this is a moment to act firmly, support the constitutional work of our National Police, provide it with new technological tools and resources,” according to a statement published by the Executive.
Thus, he explained that the appointment of López Mendoza seeks to guarantee a “respectful” transition within the PNP, while reiterating that the government’s goal “is one and does not admit ambivalence.” “To defend human life and definitively build a safe Peru,” he argued.
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The Prime Minister of Peru also announced that the Government will present actions and strategies in the coming weeks aimed at strengthening the fight against crime, within the framework of Fujimori’s policies, who took office as president of the South American country at the end of July.
For his part, Arriola stated after submitting his resignation that it is necessary for the agents not to abandon their mission. “Keep going, you cannot defeat us. Neither terrorism nor any form of organized crime has ever defeated us. This time will not be the exception,” he said, according to the Peruvian state news agency, Andina.
Arriola’s resignation comes amid criticism of his management of the Police and data pointing to nearly 150 homicides nationwide since July 28, the date of Fujimori’s inauguration, and calls for his resignation following the kidnapping at the end of August of a businessman in Trujillo (northwest), an event that resulted in four deaths.
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