Panama President Mulino Responds as Violence in Colón Raises Alarms

2026-02-26 - 21:57

President José Raúl Mulino addressed the wave of violence in the province of Colón and the case in which an elderly man lost his life after being stoned, describing the situation as “completely complex”. According to the president, the violence in this province of the country is linked to both organized crime and underlying social problems. The president acknowledged that Colón faces the impact of drug trafficking and other criminal activities that fuel violence. He noted that, together with the National Police and other state entities, sustained efforts are being made to contain the situation, although he insisted that the commitment of the people of Colón themselves is also needed. “It is not just the Government’s task, it is a shared responsibility,” he said. Mulino mentioned that attempts have been made to regulate activities such as nighttime parking, establishing schedules to reduce incidents, but he lamented that in many cases the regulations are not respected. Furthermore, he highlighted that the Government is working on urban and tourism recovery projects, such as the revitalization of the Colón city center and improvements in Portobelo, seeking to generate opportunities that help combat the problem at its root.