While the minister gave these explanations at a press conference, the Public Ministry reported on the opening of an external investigation for the possible commission of the crime against the public administration, "related to the contracting process of the modular hospital".

La Prensa's investigation revealed that on March 13 - the same day that the state of national emergency was declared due to the pandemic - the CCA verbally communicated its intention to adapt the Amador Convention Center, a project for which it is a contractor for the State. Instead, MOP opted to build a 100-bed modular hospital, at a cost of $6.9 million, not including equipment. The contract was awarded to SmartBrix Centroamerica, SA, which delivered the work on April 16.

The modular hospital is still not yet operating.

Sabonge insists that the CCA proposal was informal.

"It was on the night of March 24 that Minister [Iván] Eskildsen sent me via WhatsApp a proposal, which is a draft proposal from the CCA, to enable the Amador convention center. The message say they could evaluate donating the internal divisions, but the government had to buy all the equipment,” said Sabonge, who earlier went to the office of the Administration's attorney, Rigoberto González, who investigates why Panama rejected the donation of the Chinese company.

This is a developing story