Companies embroiled in legal troubles, lacking a technical board to operate, and with a lack of clear information about the origin of the funds to finance the wattle and daub at more than three times their usual value , are part of the mix that the construction of the bridges required and which the Ngäbe Buglé region has awaited for 30 years presents .

The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) confirmed to La Estrella de Panamá that for these works it will continue to contract directly and by invitation, that is, using the “exceptional” mechanism , despite the multiple questions that arose after the note in this newspaper “ Zarzos in the region, direct contracts for bridges at more than triple their price ”, published on the 16th of this month.

Direct, like the contracting process, the head of the MOP, José Luis Andrade , stated that opting for an ordinary process would delay the start of the second phase, until the end of this year for the four suspension bridges that would be installed in the districts of Ñurum and Müna: 34 in Kankintú, Jirondai and Santa Catalina; and another 12 in Mironó, Besikó and Nole Duima, assured the head of the entity, José Luis Andrade.

“We want to avoid further incidents; a public tender could postpone the start of these works until the end of the year ,” the official explained to this media outlet.

When asked why the construction was not planned since 2024 when the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) visited the region , according to a report by the Foundation for Sustainable Development of Panama (Fudespa) , Andrade maintained that “I don’t know where that information comes from . “

In a text message, he added that in 2024 the MOP identified the construction of “15 structures damaged by the storms of November and December 2024, which are now operational . ”

Meanwhile, new documentation obtained by this newspaper provides further clues about the profile of some of the nine companies invited by the Ministry of Public Works.

One of them: Desarrollo, Inversiones y Equipos Patria SA (Diepsa) faces a lawsuit before the Public Prosecutor’s Office for the alleged falsification of documents and crime against public faith .

According to legal documentation, Diepsa allegedly incorporated, without authorization, the resume and falsified the signature of engineer Manuel Castillero to present him as superintendent of works in a proposal linked to another construction: the rehabilitation of the El Tigre de los Amarillos–Santa Catalina road, in the province of Veraguas.

In March 2024, the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) was asked to open an investigation into this alleged falsification , according to letters sent during the previous administration.

One of these, dated March 4, 2024, addressed to Rafael Sabonge, the former Minister of Public Works, Castillero stated that he never authorized the use of his name or his professional experience, and therefore requested the opening of an administrative investigation .

However, the MOP rejected the request in April 2024, considering it inappropriate and arguing that the tender had already been awarded.

Subsequently, during the current government administration, on July 15, 2024, the MOP denied another appeal for reconsideration of the claim by engineer Castillero .

This media outlet contacted Diepsa’s legal representative, Eric Cataño, but he abruptly ended the call upon hearing the inquiry and did not answer the message to his cell phone either.

La Estrella de Panamá also asked Andrade about the hiring of Diepsa for the construction of five girders despite the allegations against the company, to which the Minister of Public Works responded that “all the companies that submitted bids are qualified” .

On the other hand, the company Civil y Logística, SA , whose representative is Juan David Cardoze Martinelli , was also contracted to build five wattle and daub structures in the region.

This company was awarded the restoration of the Presidential Yellow House in San Felipe by the Ministry of the Presidency last June.

In the last five years alone, this company has been awarded contracts worth $47 million, according to Panama Compra.

Until December 2025, one of its dignitaries was Marlene Cardoze Martinelli, also a director of the National Highway Company (ENA) during the previous government administration , a position in which she represented the government, which raises questions about the conflict of interest regarding the millions of dollars in awarded contracts.

In turn, the company’s subscribers, José Eugênio da Silva Ritter and Dianeth Ospino, appear to be linked to the international Lava Jato investigation in Brazil .

Both are listed as administrators or directors of offshore companies under investigation for channeling funds out of Brazil, according to reports from the Brazilian digital media outlet Metrópoles .

Another company of questionable reputation invited by the MOP to build wattle and daub is Constructora MECO, SA , which also participates in the bidding process and has faced legal proceedings for alleged corruption.

MECO was investigated for alleged payments to officials to expedite procedures and disbursements in the Blue Apple case ; its president was dropped from the process after an agreement with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

In Costa Rica, the company is involved in the “Cochinilla” investigation, which is looking into an alleged bribery network to obtain infrastructure contracts , and due to the regional scope of the case, the Panamanian prosecutor’s office requested information from the Costa Rican authorities.