#BODESTAFA. As of the morning of Wednesday, October 30, there had been no significant news regarding the bankruptcy process of the Bank of Orinoco in Curacao, which directly involves Víctor Vargas Irausquín and his partners in one of the largest banking scams in our continent. The only notable development was that the VVI group had let it be known that everything was going so well in the case that even the court had granted an extension to support the existence of alleged foreign assets. However, everything changed around noon on this day. What happened? The bankruptcy supervisor court of Bank of Orinoco NV Curacao suddenly scheduled a new creditors’ meeting for Friday, December 6, to discuss actions to take and present proposals for consideration of those affected by the scam. Why is this new meeting called? Because the verification made by the court, along with the bankruptcy trustee, allowed them to demonstrate that the documents presented by Víctor Vargas’s lawyers are false. The company Farringdon Asset Management based in Singapore not only denied having custody of any assets of the company “Cartera de Inversiones Venezolanas C.A”, owner of the Bank of Orinoco; but also confirmed that they did not issue any of the documents presented by the lawyers before the court. This confirms the belief of many, including myself, that the funds that were deposited in the BDO were “vanished” by Víctor Vargas and his associates in this scam—namely Luis Borbón, Santos Alonzo, and Joel Santos, among others. They are not only confessing to the crimes of fraud, aggravated undue approval, and fraudulent bankruptcy, but they will also need to be charged with submitting false documents to a court. Interestingly, the lawyers representing the “investment group” also committed the crime of submitting false documents. So, what’s next? Given the absence of assets to pay creditors, the court and the trustee might initiate the pursuit of the owners’ and executives’ assets from the Bank of Orinoco by lifting the corporate veil, so they can return the money to the defrauded using their own wealth. Additionally, they might initiate criminal actions for all the mentioned crimes. It’s worth noting that in “pursuing” all the assets, all operations carried out by Víctor Vargas and his partners, at least two years prior to the payment cessation, will be included, which brings the alleged sale of BOD assets to the National Credit Bank into the spotlight. For a detailed and rigorous legal explanation, I invite you to watch the video where lawyers Roberto Hung, Lucas Rodríguez, and José Gregorio Vásquez discuss the latest regarding this issue (Vean el video aquí). Likewise, it is important to mention that on October 25, two years passed since lawyers Carlos Calderón and Roberto Hung filed a lawsuit in the Constitutional Chamber of the TSJ for collective interests against the Occidental Bank of Discount and its president Víctor Vargas Irausquín for the scam committed against dozens of companies and thousands of savers, whose dollars disappeared in the dark web of VVI banks abroad. The bizarre part is that after two years, the judge of the case, Gladys Gutiérrez, has done nothing to make a decision, violating what the law stated, which gave her days to resolve. However, given the events shaking the bankruptcy process of the Bank of Orinoco in Curacao, it appears that the scam leaders will have to pay for their crimes in court, and with their assets, they will have to return money to the affected ones. We await the decisions taken in the creditors meeting on December 6, 2024.
ASESINATO. The tragic death of Voluntad Popular leader in Apure state, Edwin Santos, was a blatant murder. What really happened? Let me share the information I received. He was kidnapped on Wednesday, October 23, and then his body was found on Friday, October 25. Who took him? Although initial reports mention SEBIN officials, it was not actually this security body. Who then kidnapped him? It was a cell of the Colombian guerrilla that operates in the area in perfect coordination with the regime, especially with Diosdado Cabello. The confusion arises because they wore black uniforms without insignias, leading witnesses to say it was SEBIN. The guerrillas took him and subjected him to severe torture. Reports even mention the use of a blowtorch, indicating the immense cruelty of those who disappeared him. Was he taken because he safeguarded the records from June 28? No, that guerrilla cell had monitored him as a natural leader of the area, which is why they sought to eliminate him. They presumed he had “snitched” on them, and thus tried to extract information. In the end, they went too far, and that’s why the fabricated story of a traffic accident came about, which no one believes.
LA FE… Moves mountains, or as that character from Radio Rochela, “Hermano Cocó,” said: “I don’t touch that filthy money, but I spend it.” It’s well known that for many, exploiting people’s faith has become a big business. Let’s remember that Maduro even appointed his son Nicolasito to “buy” Christian churches in Venezuela to gain their support. Although not for political purposes, but rather for business and a bit of faith, former PDVSA president Pedro Tellechea implemented a similar scheme when he developed a peculiar relationship with Mildrés Lorena Mata Boulanger, the leader of the Evangelical Church “Casa de Oración Puertas al Cielo,” based in Anzoátegui state and the USA. She is known as “La Profeta,” and thanks to her connections with high-ranking regime officials, she gained access to wealth, becoming the main front for the now-detained individual. Following Pedro Tellechea’s detention, this Christian pastor’s name surfaced publicly, being pointed out as the one who held Tellechea’s money. If you want to know how this relationship began, I invite you to read an intriguing report published by our friends at El Pitazo titled: “A prophet achieved power in Pdvsa with the blessing of Pedro Tellechea”. The information I’ve received about “La Profeta” indicates she moved large sums of money for months, and her trips outside Venezuela were more than frequent. She reportedly traveled constantly to the US and Europe, supposedly moving the proceeds from Tellechea’s shady business. As a supposed religious leader, she had some privileges that might have helped her disguise the money as contributions to her international church. Fortunately for her, when PT was arrested, she was supposedly abroad and thus managed to stay out of Venezuela to avoid detention. The absurd part is that when these kinds of situations occur, the norm is for involved parties to disappear even from their social media, but Mildrés continues officiating her services through her Facebook and Instagram accounts as if nothing happened, when in reality, she’s pointed out as Tellechea’s front. On another note, I want to emphasize that, beyond the corruption acts committed by Pedro Tellechea, the real reason for his arrest is the internal dispute within Chavismo between Diosdado and the Rodríguez brothers, as I explained in my column from last week. While “Pedrito” rots in a Chavista dungeon, his personal pastor lives lavishly with her money abroad. Long live the beautiful revolution!
RELACIONES. Relations between Venezuela and Brazil are not in the best state. Beyond ideological affinity, Lula da Silva’s government adheres to democratic principles by not recognizing Nicolás Maduro’s supposed victory in the June 28 elections. Brazil’s position was confirmed with its rejection of Venezuela’s entry into BRICS, reiterated by Lula’s special advisor for international affairs, Celso Amorim, during his appearance before the Foreign Relations Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, stating they don’t recognize Maduro’s victory because “the principle of transparency was not respected” due to the lack of detailed results publication. Another statement from Amorim clearly outlines Brazil’s position: “It’s not a question of political regime, it’s a question of lost trust. They told us one thing and did another.” This last statement is interesting as it demonstrates that Lula’s administration had reached certain agreements with Maduro’s regime, which were ultimately not honored. It’s also important to highlight how the Brazilian government’s discourse has escalated, as they now not only speak of questionable results announced by the CNE, but additionally express concern for Venezuelans’ human rights and the new social control mechanisms implemented by the officialdom. What will the Venezuelan regime do? I believe they will continue to assert that Lula’s actions are aggression and will play for time. That is, they will remain true to their style.
TUN TUN. Now more than ever, the phrase that “no one is safe in Chavismo” rings true, for amid the “Tun Tun operation” currently underway within the regime, even those considered protected are prone to fall in the hunt sparked among power contenders within the officialdom. In my column last week, I analyzed the detention of former PDVSA president, Pedro Tellechea, and mentioned that the next to fall could be the “revolutionary magician” named Jorge Alfredo Silva Cardona, who transitioned from sergeant in the GNB and an administrative technician in SENIAT to a powerful agro-industrial and oil businessman. Why might this guy be the next plugged figure to fall? It is clear that behind Jorge Silva’s wealth, Diosdado and his brother José David Cabello have interests, having not only sponsored him to rise from poverty to millionaire status but also facilitated lucrative deals like the one Diosdado arranged years ago with the powerful Brazilian company JBS, to supply chicken and beef to Venezuela for over 2.1 billion dollars, where Jorge Alfredo Silva Cardona’s JHS group played a significant role. Let’s step back a bit and note that Silva was a first sergeant in the GNB until 2008, when he began working as an administrative technician at SENIAT, a position he held until August 2013. Coincidentally, in November of 2013, he registered his first two companies in his name (Aves JHS and Servicios JHS), and from there began a meteoric rise to become an agro-industrial mogul who is now also entering the oil business. The rapid and inexplicable financial success of Silva was such that by December 2014, a mere 13 months after starting his operations, his financial statement showed over 38 million dollars and 4.3 billion bolivars in liquidity. Do you see why he is termed a “revolutionary magician”? But his rise doesn’t stop there; in October 2016, he bought Deportivo Táchira from the Kabchi family for an undisclosed amount. Today, Jorge Silva manages his JHS group, which stands for “Jesus Hombre Salvador,” boasting nine business units: Deportivo Táchira, JHS Incubation, JHS Porcinos, JHS Aba (animal feed), JHS Aves, Andi Huevos, Delicias Isa, and Agropecuaria El Dorado. He even founded an educational institution, the Institute of Agro-industrial Technology (IUTA). But his expansion doesn’t finish with agro-industrial businesses; he is now also a partner with PDVSA in a joint venture, Petrolera Roraima, through A&B Oil and Gas, managing a considerable block in the Oil Belt of the Orinoco. There is no doubt that behind this opaque financial success lies Diosdado Cabello, which is reason enough for this plugged individual to be the next to fall amid the red carnage. If you want more details on Jorge Alfredo Silva Cardona’s ventures, I invite you to read two interesting reports published by the Armando Info colleagues. Now do you understand the reasons for calling him a “revolutionary magician” and that he could be the next plugged figure to fall? This character is a prime example of the “revolutionary miracle” that turned the poor into the wealthy.
@elfarodelmorro_net Who is Jorge Silva Cardona? The young businessman, owner of Deportivo Táchira and the JHS Group, is engaged to Miss Venezuela 2017, Sthefany Gutierrez #deportivotachira #sthefanygutierrez #venezolanas ♬ sonido original – el faro del morro
DESAPARICIONES. Human rights violations in Venezuela continue to pile up. There are over a thousand detainees, among whom are around 70 minors and nine persons with disabilities, who are not only in filthy prisons but also risk receiving sentences of up to 30 years for merely participating in protests against the electoral results. This involves political persecution against opposition governors, as is the case of Maracaibo mayor Rafael Ramírez Colina and four of his directors. Moreover, it involves political leaders detained at the border, such as Eduardo Labrador, a legislator from the Zulia State Legislative Council, who has been detained for over 11 days, and his whereabouts are completely unknown. No one is providing answers. His family and political allies have consulted all instances, and no one is responding about where he is being held or what charges he faces. In very clear, albeit cruel terms, the regime has “disappeared” Labrador as part of its strategy to sow terror led by Diosdado Cabello. In one unofficial instance, they informed his family that “he is fine” and that he could be judicialized in the coming days. Another shocking case is the death of Voluntad Popular leader Edwin Santos, which I previously detailed in this column. It’s absurd that the national director of CICPC, Douglas Rico, instead of ordering an investigation into the events, threatens the media and anyone who claims he died under torture. The official hunt is so savage that several days ago a police commission detained merchant Antonio Buzzeta in Maracaibo, and he too has literally disappeared because no one is providing answers about his whereabouts to his family. The strange part of this case is that Mr. Buzzeta is a merchant with no political connections, implying that the official repression is escalating to unexpected levels. These individuals have crossed every limit in their criminal actions. This terror machine is led by Diosdado Cabello, as we expressed in the Sunday editorial of Verdades and Rumores. By the way, when the moment finally arrives to dispense justice in Venezuela, none of those involved in human rights violations will be able to claim they were “just following orders,” as that won’t exculpate them from anything. Let’s remember the concept of the “banality of evil” coined by philosopher Hannah Arendt, regarding the excuses used by Nazis during the Nuremberg trials. What does the “banality of evil” consist of? This concept describes how “a system of political power can trivialize the extermination of human beings when conducted as a bureaucratic procedure executed by officials incapable of considering the ethical and moral consequences of their own actions.” Diosdado Cabello and all, but all involved will soon face their reckoning. Even their mocking spirits will be extinguished.
SUBMARINO. The “destroyer of Zulia,” Omar Prieto, remains sidelined and without prospects of successfully retrieving his political career. Once again, he was excluded from an important event, as General “Blackout” Néstor Reverol didn’t invite him to the Chinita festival but did invite other PSUV insiders in Zulia. Omar experiences mixed emotions; on one hand, he is upset because Reverol continues to ignore him, while on the other, he is frustrated because he is unable to achieve his political goals. Among the severe blows to his large ego, he now seems to blame Héctor Soto and Angela Fernández for his misfortunes. While the “red submarine” continues to sink, Soto remains the general’s favorite to be the candidate for the San Francisco mayoralty. Omar’s failure is so significant that he hasn’t even achieved his aim of creating chaos in Mayor Gustavo Fernández’s administration, who continues managing along with the usual challenges in this complex municipality.
BASURA. I find the decision made by interim Maracaibo mayor, Adrián Romero, to put the garbage collection service out to tender excellent. This will not only eliminate any business dealings related to the service but also improve efficiency in a city that produces significant amounts of solid waste and has many complexities maintaining frequency. These tendering processes are known to be slow, but given the urgency, the mayor announced that the new companies must be fully operational by January 2025. What’s important is that the tender is led by individuals of unquestionable honesty and knowledge, so the result cannot be questioned by anyone. Although I know it’s not easy, ideally the selected companies must have a solid reputation. Why do I say this? Because there are companies like Fospuca, for example, that have a dirtier image than the garbage they collect. The poor image of Fospuca and its owner, José Simón Elarba Hadad, is so bad that this man is spending a substantial amount of money to clean up his digital footprint. I hope the outcome of the tender satisfies the majority, that the service improves to an optimal level, and that one of the flanks used by Chavismo to attack opposition leaders is eliminated.
AMENAZA. I recommend that Manuel Rosales take very seriously the threat made against him by the first vice president of the National Assembly, Pedro Infante, regarding his alleged involvement in the irregularities that occurred in Monómeros during Juan Guaidó’s interim government. What did Infante say? He declared that Manuel “directly participated in the theft of Monómeros”. Not satisfied with pointing directly at MR, the parliamentarian stated that “Un Nuevo Tiempo is involved in the theft of CITGO.” These allegations could be a clear indication that a sector of Chavismo is coming for Manuel and other leaders of UNT, despite his clear alliance with the official trend led by the Rodríguez brothers. Furthermore, a friend informed me that Diosdado Cabello mentioned this topic on his TV show. It seems that DC is the main individual interested in punishing Manuel, thus delivering another blow to the demonic brothers amid the internal accounting taking place in the regime. Manuel, remember that Diosdado has no scruples when it comes to eliminating those he considers his enemies, and I believe the Rodríguez’s would wash their hands in this case. And also remember that “no one is safe in Chavismo.”
APOYO. Following the appointment of my friend Marco Rivero as president of IMAU, I consulted the Centro Democrático (PCD) party regarding their stance on the nascent management of Maracaibo’s interim mayor, Adrián Romero. I did so considering Marco is the general secretary of this organization in Zulia: “We are not only supporting the work that Adrián Romero has begun, but also applaud him for calling for a tender to select the companies that will take over the complex garbage collection service in the city. This is a very positive alternative to cut any business dealings and prevent Chavismo from attacking the administration on alleged irregularities. We hope this tender is 100% transparent and that the Marabinos are informed. Such initiatives are part of what we advocate as the new politics, from which models of management based on ethics and efficiency should emerge.”
CASTIGO. I’ve been informed that the Regional Police officers who detained legislator Eduardo Labrador at the border are now detained in the SEBIN. What happened? Well, these police officers became greedy and not content with taking Labrador’s phone and the dollars he had, upon checking his cell phone, they detected conversations with certain individuals and immediately began extorting them, threatening that if they didn’t pay a large sum of money, they too would face detention for any “revolutionary” crime. Allegedly, the current commander of the PR, who recently held that position, was also involved in this scheme. Somehow, this extortion attempt reached the SEBIN, leading to the order for the detention of the police involved in Eduardo Labrador’s arrest. While these officers remain imprisoned, the PR commander is staying silent about the matter.
FIESTAS. As I mentioned in my column last week, there are rumors in the halls of the Maracaibo Municipal Comptroller’s Office about the extravagant parties organized by the intervening comptroller, Antonio Bermúdez, to celebrate birthdays or any occasion that allows them to enjoy good liquor and exquisite food with institutional money. It seems Mr. Bermúdez loves a good party, and thus greatly enjoys these celebrations to which only a small group of his team is invited. Where does he get so much money? It’s assumed he diverts resources from various budget items. By the way, don’t give me the excuse that they are “pooling” funds for partying. Want proof of these bashes? Here’s a little something. On another note, “Antonito” is failing miserably in his poor management, and the individual he appointed as head of post-control, José Gregorio Socorro, recommended by Jenny Cedeño, has created chaos of enormous proportions with the audits. The mess is so enormous that Bermúdez himself is calling back the recently dismissed director of that area, Jazmín Fuenmayor, to restore order. If this Mr. Socorro was the one who conducted the audits used to accuse Maracaibo Mayor, Rafael Ramírez Colina, I wonder: Are these poorly executed audits lacking veracity to serve as evidence in this case? Additionally, I’ve been informed that the party-loving comptroller refuses to rehire the employees he dismissed, claiming he’s protected by Jenny Cedeño who supposedly has the backing of the First Combatant, Cilia Flores. Is it true that “Cilita” is shielding Jenny’s and Antonito’s arbitrariness?
SARAO. This Wednesday, October 30, the Christmas lighting of the Zulia Government Palace took place. Was it a public party? Not at all; it was an exclusive bash to which only friends, contractors, and select political leaders invited directly by Manuel were allowed. The event turned out to be reserved for special guests. The bacchanal began at 4 PM and lasted until past 2 AM on Thursday, October 31. One of the attendees tells me there was good whisky, food aplenty, and excellent live music. However, there was no community presence and, even less, any officials from the state governor’s office. The odd thing is that there’s no money to provide aid, for example, to Zulians with health issues, but there is for these ostentatious celebrations.
SEBIN. One of my sources in the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) reached out to me, worried over an internal communication dated October 23, 2024, which informs that SEBIN officials are now prohibited from processing passport issuance or renewal requests at the SAIME. Anyone wishing to handle this essential travel document will need the approval of the SEBIN director. What does this imply? That all members of the institution, and perhaps their families, are not only barred from obtaining their passports but are also prohibited from leaving the country. It can be inferred that this is a direct order from Diosdado Cabello due to the number of officials of all ranks who are planning to leave Venezuela with their families. I should warn that many already evacuated their families before the elections, fearing the current situation.
DESPRECIO. The relatives of the three detained bodyguards who are in a cell in Caracas supposedly attempted to communicate directly with Manuel Rosales, but he refused to attend to them, sending an emissary to suggest they seek lawyers and not expect his support. In light of the governor’s contempt, they approached the commander of the Regional Police, who also washed his hands of the matter and advised them to seek the Vice President of the Republic. Now, nobody knows them, nor is anyone offering to help them.
MALTRATO. Dear Governor of Zulia state, Manuel Rosales, I recommend you investigate the ongoing mistreatment faced by the staff and visitors at the Casa de la Capitulación by the director of the institution. It seems to be a recurring behavior of this lady, who treated her staff poorly when she was part of your office.
Darwin Chávez|@Darwinch857|[email protected]