QCOSTARICA – Celso Gamboa this afternoon announced his resignation as Minister of Security (Ministro de Seguridad Publica – MSP), to take over as deputy prosecutor at the Ministerio Publico (Prosecutor’s Office).
At a live press conference, President Luis Guillermo Solis confirmed the resignation, denying that he had asked for Gamboa to give up his post after only nine months. Gamboa had been deputy minister of Security in the previous administration.
Gamboa denied that he had been offered to assume the Ministry of the Presidency as had been reported yesterday by one news source. Gamboa added that he has an “excellent relationship” with Melvin Jimenez (Minister of the Presidency) and Mariano Figueres (director of the DIS), two of the President’s closest associates.
President Solís praised the work of Gamboa, saying “I found Celso a loyal companion, efficient, committed and we will miss him. He’s one of the most distinguished in this administration officials.”
Without giving any names as to potential candidates to replace Gamboa, President Solis said a replacement will be made public within the next eight days, but definitely will not be Mariano Figueres, the current director of the country’s intelligence service.