What Happened
Former independent lawmaker Juan Diego Vásquez said the crisis engulfing the Autonomous University of Chiriquí, known as Unachi, did not come as a surprise because he had raised concerns years ago about salary increases, promotions and questionable academic credentials inside the institution.
In an interview with La Prensa, Vásquez said the pattern he warned about in the National Assembly’s budget committee was tied to a structure that protected the university’s leadership and allowed irregular decisions to continue. He argued that the situation should have been addressed long before investigators reached the university.
He said the university’s political backing extended across party lines and helped shield the administration of rector Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas. According to Vásquez, support came from members of multiple political groups, including the Democratic Revolutionary Party and Realizing Goals, as well as other factions.
Students and Staff, He Says, Paid the Price
Vásquez said the main victims were students and university employees who met academic and labor requirements but were left behind as others received benefits. He said honest professors and administrators were harmed by what he described as discriminatory salary treatment.
He also criticized the use of foreign academic titles to justify pay raises and promotions. In his view, some agreements with overseas universities were used to create fast-track master’s and doctoral credentials that lacked the rigor expected from legitimate higher education programs.
Vásquez argued that the practice was not about academic merit but about rewarding allies. He said the process allowed people to obtain salary boosts through degrees that could be completed in a few months without a thesis or demanding academic standards.
A Broader Political Problem
Beyond Unachi, Vásquez framed the controversy as a possible fraud against the state. He compared the use of questionable credentials to professional licensing in fields such as medicine, law and engineering, saying that false diplomas undermine public trust and the rules that regulate public service.
He also recalled what he described as political protection for the rector during budget debates in the National Assembly. According to Vásquez, lawmakers from different parties defended the university administration while he was speaking out against the alleged scheme.
He said he even witnessed efforts to secure the rector’s reelection, including lawmakers calling other legislators to line up votes. He also questioned why previous administrations continued increasing the university’s budget despite the concerns already raised.
What It Means for Unachi
Vásquez said the situation points to a carefully organized system involving contracts, appointments and salary increases. He described it as a plan built across political and institutional levels, one that he believes should be reviewed with urgency.
At the same time, he said a change at the top will not be enough on its own. For Unachi to recover, he said the university needs new leadership and a full reform aimed at restoring its focus on students and academic quality in Chiriquí.