Oscar Mira Steps Aside as Home Affairs Minister Pending Audit

In an interesting turn of events in the growing Oscar Mira procurement controversy, it was not Prime Minister John Briceño who moved to remove the Minister of Home Affairs from Cabinet duties, but rather Minister Mira himself who requested a leave of absence.  The announcement came this afternoon in an official release from the Office of the Prime Minister, which confirmed that Julius Espat will now serve as Interim Minister of Home Affairs in addition to his duties as Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing.  According to the government, Mira requested that the Prime Minister relieve him of his Cabinet responsibilities while the Auditor General conducts a review of the transactions and payment processes under scrutiny. The audit is expected to take approximately three months.  While Prime Minister Briceño had already ordered what he described as an immediate, thorough and transparent review of the transactions, today’s announcement is notable because it was Mira who initiated the leave request before any public decision by the Prime Minister on his future in Cabinet.  In the release, Prime Minister Briceño said concerns regarding ministerial conduct are being taken seriously and stressed the government’s responsibility to ensure value for taxpayer dollars and compliance with procurement regulations.