Former Protocol Chief Says the Press is Out to Persecute President Pacheco
Jorge Arce, former chief of protocol at Casa Presidencial, who resigned on Monday amid accusations of irregularities, said he quit because he didn't want to further hurt President Pacheco.

"I am not ready, in this election year, to be part of those who want hurt him, for reasons only they know" was part of one of the paragraphs in Arce's resignation letter, who on Monday afternoon left his post.

Arce was emphatic that was the reason for his leaving his post after more than three years at the side of Pacheco and that it is not an admission of any wrongdoing by him or anyone else in the administration.

Arce assured that he never acted as legal counsel for former tourism minister, Rubén Pacheco Lutz, saying that he has his own lawyers. In reference to Spanish businessman, Bernardo Martín, a lot of damage has been done and they are scaring away the investment.

"The country needs investors, but they won't come if questions are being raised that are not true", said Arce.

For his part, former minister Pacheco Lutz showed anger in front of television cameras yesterday, saying that the Papagayo project lands have been dormant for 30 years and now that they have a plan and and investor for the four lots being concessioned by the government, questions are being raised about wrongdoing.

Both Arce and Pacheco Lutz accompanied president Pacheco on two trips to Spain last year where they met with Martín, who was named Honourary Consul for Costa Rica in Spain and later decided to invest in the Papagayo project. Martín also published president Pacheco's book of poems free of charge.

Arce added in his comments that the "persecution" campaign against the President is on the part of the media and nothing else. In an election year, the press acts without contemplating the damages that could be caused to innocent people.

Arce said he will now go back to his law firm and return to practicing law.