---
title: "Antai fines Arraiján mayor over ethics breach as lawmakers inspect hospital failures"
date: 2026-05-13
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/panama-ethics-case-antai-arraijan-mayor/
categories:
  - "Health"
  - "News"
  - "Politics"
tags:
  - "Antai"
  - "Arraiján"
  - "Panama Assembly"
  - "public hospitals"
  - "Social Security Fund"
  - "Stefany Peñalba"
---

# Antai fines Arraiján mayor over ethics breach as lawmakers inspect hospital failures

## What Happened

Panama’s National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information has sanctioned Arraiján mayor Stefany Peñalba for violations of the public servants’ ethics code, imposing a fine equal to 50% of her monthly salary. The case centers on the presence of family members on the municipality’s payroll, a practice that has drawn scrutiny after some relatives resigned while others remained in their posts.

The decision is not yet final and can still be challenged through a reconsideration appeal. The sanction places fresh pressure on the Arraiján mayor, who is already facing criticism over her administration.

## Hospital Inspections Highlight Public Health Strains

In a separate development, lawmakers Betserai Richards and José Pérez Barboni used the Assembly recess to inspect the Hospital Irma de Lourdes Tzanetatos and the Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid Complex Hospital. Their walkthrough focused on recurring problems that have become familiar to many patients: delayed surgeries, broken air conditioners, postponed appointments, and signs of neglect inside the facilities.

At the hospital complex, the lawmakers found an abandoned stretcher in the courtyard, adding to the image of a health system under visible strain. The visits underscore the pressure on Panama’s public health institutions, where service delays and infrastructure failures continue to shape the experience of patients and staff alike.

## Conflict Over Oversight and Public Criticism

The Social Security Fund reacted by accusing the lawmakers of engaging in “proselytizing” inside health facilities. The dispute reflects a broader political tension around oversight of public services, especially when elected officials publicly document problems that patients have been describing for years.

That tension is part of a larger national debate about the state of Panama’s social security and health systems. Persistent complaints about deteriorating infrastructure, postponed care, and management problems have made public hospitals a frequent flashpoint in politics and public administration.

## Contralor’s Meeting Draws Attention

Another point of focus came during a meeting between Assembly president Jorge Herrera, Vamos lawmakers, and Comptroller Anel Flores. Flores arrived with Poll Anria, who had reportedly stepped down as his spokesperson the previous month, raising questions about the status of that role and the comptroller’s internal team.

The day’s developments show how ethics, oversight, and public service delivery remain intertwined in Panama’s political conversation. From municipal hiring practices to hospital conditions, the issues under scrutiny continue to test the credibility of public institutions.