Rodríguez Confirmed to Arrive in Costa Rica at 2:20pm
The Arrival of Miguel Angel Rodríguez, now former Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), was confirmed by Minister of Seguridad Publica and Immigration director, Marco Badilla.

Rodríguez boarded TACA flight 681 in Washington with Costa Rica as the final destination arriving at the Juan Santamaria airport at 2:20pm, after making a scheduled stop in El Salvador.

Badilla also confirmed that he has the detention order in his hands, signed by a judge, against the former president and now former Secretary General of the OAS.

Badilla told ICR in a telephone interview that Rodríguez is still under diplomatic immunity and he will have his immigration agents refer the detention of the former president to judicial officials.

Ramos told reporters at a news conference that he job is to fulfill the court order, that is, to detain Rodríguez and ensure his presence before the tribunals.

The rest will then be up to the Fiscalía (prosecutor's office) and the courts, who will then decide if Rodríguez is to be let free or remain in custody.

Authorities are being tight lipped on how Rodríguez will be handled once he is their custody, if he will be handcuffed and escorted to the courthouse.


Rodríguez was president of Costa Rica for the period 1998-2002, leaving the seat to the current president Abel Pacheco, who belong to the same political party, the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC).

Rodríguez took office at the OAS last September 15, but lasted less than one month at the post, since he was forced to resign after his alleged involvement in accepting bribes from the French telecommunications firm Alcatel and the government of Taiwan.