Members of the selection panel announce criminal action to defend their honour and maintain that the process has been carried out in accordance with the law.
The controversy surrounding the competitive examinations to fill several Manilva Local Police posts continues to grow. Following the eight appeals lodged by candidates, the criminal complaint filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office by one of the candidates and the Partido Popular’s calls to suspend the process as a precautionary measure, it is now the Selection Panel itself that has decided to take action.
In a statement issued by Manilva Town Hall, the panel members have announced that they have filed a complaint with the Marbella-Estepona Area Public Prosecutor’s Office with the aim of defending their honour, their professionalism and the legality of the selection process.
«A line has been crossed»
In the statement, the panel says that in recent weeks both the Popular Party municipal group and some people linked to the examinations have made public statements that, in its view, call into question the impartiality and integrity of those who form part of the selection body.
The panel members consider that the criticism has gone beyond any candidate’s legitimate right to challenge an administrative procedure, and believe that a campaign of personal and institutional discredit has been generated, based, they state, on very serious accusations that lack judicial backing.
They also regret that these statements have been widely circulated in the media and on social media, causing significant personal, family and professional harm to public officials who, they say, have only carried out the duties entrusted to them.
They ask the Public Prosecutor’s Office to intervene
In this situation, the panel has decided to bring the facts to the attention of the Public Prosecutor’s Office so that it can examine whether any of the actions and accusations made against its members could constitute a criminal offence.
Likewise, they warn that they reserve the right to take whatever civil and criminal action they consider appropriate to protect their right to honour, their dignity and their professional reputation.
They reaffirm the legality of the examinations
The members of the selection panel maintain that the entire procedure has been carried out in accordance with the constitutional principles that must govern access to public employment: equality, merit, ability, publicity, transparency and impartiality.
In this regard, they insist that it will be for the judicial authorities to determine whether or not there is any irregularity, rejecting the idea that such an assessment can be made through public campaigns or political statements.
They also reiterate their commitment to the independence of selection panels and consider that attempts to discredit them without a court ruling affect not only their members, but also the normal progress of the selection process itself.
A conflict that continues to escalate
To date, there are known to be eight administrative appeals lodged by different candidates and a criminal complaint filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office by one of the candidates, requesting the opening of investigative proceedings, a review of the custody of the exam papers, statements from the panel members and the precautionary suspension of the examinations while the facts are clarified.
At the same time, the Partido Popular of Manilva has on several occasions requested that the procedure be halted and that it be given full access to the administrative file, while the PP of San Roque has also asked mayor Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix for explanations regarding the participation of San Roque Town Hall officials on the selection panel.
With the complaint now announced by the panel itself, the controversy enters a new phase in which both sides have decided to turn to the criminal courts to defend their respective positions.
For the time being, it will be up to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to examine the various complaints filed and determine whether to open proceedings or take further action. In the meantime, the Manilva Local Police selection process remains caught up in a growing administrative, political and now judicial battle whose outcome remains open and which will continue to make headlines in the coming days.
