stated that her government will not allow the mistreatment of Peruvian National Police personnel who are fulfilling their duty.
This statement comes in response to cases where agents have been imprisoned for using their weapons in accordance with regulations.
During a press conference following the War Room against crime on Wednesday, the top official emphasized that since the beginning of her administration, the Executive Branch has aimed to restore the rightful place of the National Police and the Armed Forces within society.
In this regard, the Head of State highlighted the courageous work of police personnel who fight crime daily, even at the risk of their own lives. She urged that good police members should not be unjustly accused or imprisoned for doing their job.
Following her remarks, Mrs. Boluarte invited PNP non-commissioned officers Pablo Baltazar, who was severely injured in the eye after confronting criminals in Lima's San Borja district last November, and Gilmer Torres, who was initially sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting down a criminal in the city of Chiclayo, but was later acquitted on appeal, to the Government Palace Tupac Amaru Hall.
"My deepest respect and admiration to the non-commissioned officers present here today and to all police who wear the uniform with honor and face similar cases. To them, we say: we will not allow this. We have placed 200 lawyers within the Ministry of Interior to defend them bravely and honorably," she announced.
Likewise, the President stated that the ministry will fully cover the medical treatment of Non-Commissioned Officer Baltazar at the Barraquer Clinic in Colombia, where he will travel soon.
Furthermore, the Head of State welcomed the court's decision to acquit Non-Commissioned Officer Torres and expressed confidence that the previous sentence would be dismissed and not appealed by the Public Ministry (Prosecutor's Office). Otherwise, the National Police's public defenders will take on the case until the agent's full acquittal.
The top official stressed that if a PNP member does not shoot at a criminal, they risk losing their life or being seriously injured, as in the case of Non-Commissioned Officer Baltazar.
She also questioned human rights organizations for not speaking out on their behalf.
"We will not allow our police to be treated as criminals and criminals to be treated as victims; this world is upside down," Mrs. Boluarte emphasized.
"Lastly, I reiterate my call for unity in this fight because together, we can do so much for the Peru we all love. But if we remain divided, we will continue to witness these kinds of injustices. However, we will not allow it," she concluded.