What Happened
Director General Dino Mon of the Caja de Seguro Social said the National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information closed a review linked to his trip to Brazil after determining it had no jurisdiction to open an administrative examination against him.
Mon made the statement in an official communication on Tuesday, April 14, defending his conduct and saying he acted with responsibility, verifiable facts, and within the law.
He also said he voluntarily appeared before the transparency authority and submitted documents related to the trip and to the handling of his partial vacation time within the institution.
Documents Submitted and Travel Details
According to Mon, the materials included notifications to the CSS board of directors, requests for authorization before the Executive Branch, and procedures handled through the institutional human resources department.
He said the trip had originally been scheduled for March 23, 2026, with São Paulo as the destination, but was moved up to March 19 using personal funds. Mon added that he kept his return date for March 29 and paid for other trips within Brazil out of his own pocket.
The travel became controversial because Mon was expected to attend the Social Security Forum for the Americas, held in São Paulo from March 25 to 27. Before that event, he was seen at a beach in Rio de Janeiro. He later acknowledged making a stop in Rio before continuing to São Paulo and said he used accumulated vacation time.
The Complaint Behind the Case
The matter began on March 25, 2026, when the National Association of Administrative CSS Employees filed a formal complaint before Antai. The group alleged possible crimes against public administration.
Among the accusations raised against Mon were alleged embezzlement through improper use of public funds and a violation of the Code of Ethics for Public Servants.
The complaint echoes previous tensions between the union and CSS leadership. In 2020, the same group called for the removal of then-director Enrique Lau Cortés, arguing that he overstepped his authority in a separate matter involving pension fund securities.
Why It Matters
The case places renewed scrutiny on how top officials at the CSS manage travel, vacation time, and the use of public resources. It also underscores the political sensitivity surrounding the leadership of one of Panama’s most important public institutions, which administers health and pension services for much of the country.
For Mon, the closure of the review strengthens his defense that the trip was handled through proper channels and with personal funds for part of the travel. For critics, however, the controversy adds to broader public debate over transparency and ethics in government-linked institutions.