Agustín Mantilla

Máximo Agustín Mantilla Campos (December 10, 1944 – November 20, 2015) was a Peruvian economist, sociologist and politician.[1] Considered by analysts as one of the most powerful political figures in Alan García's first administration, he served as Deputy Minister and subsequently as Minister of the Interior during the most tense years of the Peruvian internal conflict between the Peruvian government and the terrorist organizations, the Shining Path and the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement.[2]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Mantilla and the second or maternal family name is Campos.
Agustín Mantilla
Member of Congress
In office
26 July 1995 – 26 July 2000
ConstituencyNational
General Secretary of the
Peruvian Aprista Party
In office
23 December 1992 – May 1995
Preceded byAlan García
Succeeded byLuis Alva Castro
Minister of the Interior
In office
15 May 1989 – 28 July 1990
PresidentAlan García
Prime MinisterLuis Alberto Sánchez
Guillermo Larco Cox
Preceded byArmando Villanueva
Succeeded byAdolfo Alvarado Fournier
Minister of the Presidency
In office
2 March 1989 – 15 May 1989
PresidentAlan García
Prime MinisterArmando Villanueva
Preceded byArmando Villanueva
Succeeded byLuis Alberto Sánchez
Member of the Pueblo Libre
District Council
In office
1 January 1981 – 31 December 1983
Personal details
Born
Máximo Agustín Mantilla Campos

(1944-12-10)10 December 1944
Lima, Peru
Died20 November 2015(2015-11-20) (aged 70)
Lima, Peru
Nationality Peruvian
Political partyPeruvian Aprista Party (until 2001)
Alma materNational University of San Marcos (BA)
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University
ESAN University (MBA)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionEconomist
Agustin Mantilla
Born
Máximo Agustín Mantilla Campos

(1944-12-10)10 December 1944
Lima, Peru
Died20 November 2015(2015-11-20) (aged 70)
Lima, Peru
NationalityPeruvian
Criminal statusServed prison sentence, released in 2006
Conviction(s)Bribery
Criminal chargeBribery
Penalty6 years' imprisonment

Accused of leading a paramilitary death squad organization in the late 1980s, he denied the existence and his involvement in the organization throughout his career until 2013, where he admitted to the execution of suspected terrorists.[3] He was sentenced to six years in prison based on charges of corruption as he was caught on videotape receiving bribes in one of Vladimiro Montesinos secret video recordings at the National Intelligence Service headquarters, in exchange for the Peruvian Aprista Party's support of President Alberto Fujimori's administration in 2000.[4]

Early life and education

Mantilla was born in Lima on December 10, 1944. Upon finishing high school, he joined the Peruvian Aprista Party in October 1965, and from early on he was strongly linked with the party base of the Pueblo Libre District. He was admitted to the National University of San Marcos in 1965, where he graduated with a degree in economics. Afterwards, he enrolled in the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University, where he studied Sociology.[2]

Career

In 1970, he worked at the Fishing Consortium, in the fishmeal business; then in the fishmeal and fish oil trading company EPCHAP, and in Pescaperú.

Political career

Early political career

Upon finishing high school, he enrolled in the Peruvian Aprista Party in October 1965, and from early on he was strongly linked with the party base of the Pueblo Libre District. Following his experience in the fishing sector, he was introduced to the inner circle of the Peruvian Aprista Party. Upon meeting Alan García in 1977, he served as his Private Secretary from 1979 to 1985.[5]

From 1981 to 1983, he was a member of the District Council of Pueblo Libre. Between 1985 and 1989, he held the position of Deputy Minister of the Interior. He was briefly appointed Minister of the Presidency from March to May 1989, and as Interior Minister from May 1989 to July 1990.

During his tenure as Minister of the Interior, he was accused of leading the supposed paramilitary command "Rodrigo Franco", with the task of eliminating suspected terrorists. The organization has been classified as a government death squad authorized by Alan García's first administration, although no proof was found in the following investigations against Mantilla and the supposed Peruvian Army officials that were indicted members of the squad.

Congressman

In 1992, upon Alan García's request for political asylum granted by the Colombian government, Mantilla was chosen as his successor as Secretary General of the party, on December 1992. In his position as the highest ranking party leader at the 1995 Peruvian general election, Mantilla was elected to the newly unicameral Peruvian Congress alongside 7 other representatives of his party. He was succeeded in the Secretariat by former Second Vice President and 1990 presidential nominee, Luis Alva Castro. In the 2000 general election, Mantilla lost his seat as he attained a low number of votes.

Trial, corruption charges and conviction

Following his congressional tenure and the 2000 general election, it was revealed to the media that Mantilla received $30,000 USD from presidential advisor and Intelligence Chief Vladimiro Montesinos on March 13, 2000, destined for party funds in exchange for political support of Alberto Fujimori's regime.[6] In 2002, the Supreme Court sentenced Mantilla to six years in prison for corruption charges in detriment of the Peruvian Government. Subsequently, he was expelled from the Peruvian Aprista Party.[7]

Upon his release from prison in 2006, Mantilla kept a low profile in the years to come. Cited by investigative committees relating to the paramilitary command he was accused of leading, he kept denying his involvement and the existence of such organization until 2013, when he admitted the existence of the organization, but without the government's knowledge or consent.[8][9][10]

Death

Mantilla died on November 20, 2015, at his home in Pueblo Libre, due to diabetes at the age of 70.[11]

References
  1. "Ex ministro aprista Agustín Mantilla fallece a los 70 años". El Comercio. 25 November 2015.
  2. "El hombre que sabe demasiado" (PDF).
  3. "Fiscalía pidió 25 años para Agustín Mantilla por supuestos crímenes del Comando Rodrigo Franco".
  4. "Agustín Mantilla: Fui preso por cumplir órdenes".
  5. "Agustín Mantilla: ¿Quién es el fallecido ex dirigente aprista? | POLITICA". 20 November 2015.
  6. Quiroz, Alfonso W. (2008). Corrupt Circles: A History of Unbound Graft in Peru. Woodrow Wilson Center Press. p. 352. ISBN 9780801891281.
  7. "Agustín Mantilla se moviliza en una Hummer". El Comercio (Peru). 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  8. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Acusan a Agustín Mantilla por el comando Rodrigo Franco (Prensa Libre 07-01-2008). YouTube.
  9. "Ex ministro Agustín Mantilla: "Comando Rodrigo Franco sí existió" | POLITICA". 9 September 2013.
  10. "Agustín Mantilla: "No se puede comparar al supuesto Comando Rodrigo Franco con los Colina" | POLITICA". 28 May 2013.
  11. "León: "No tiene sentido que García venga a velorio de Mantilla" | POLITICA". 21 November 2015.
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