Peruvian Education Minister Discloses Court Order for Alimony Payments in Financial Disclosure
Jorge Marticorena, the current Minister of Education and a congressman for Alianza para el Progreso (APP), has disclosed a court order for alimony payments in his sworn financial statement. The order, issued by the Superior Court of Justice of Ica, mandates a 24% deduction from his earnings for child support. This legal process began in 2019 when the child's mother requested an increase in the alimony for their daughter. Initially, a first-instance court ordered a 20% deduction from Marticorena's salary as a university professor. However, the case was elevated to the Third Family Court of Ica, and in May 2022, a virtual hearing concluded with the case ready for sentencing. In August 2022, Judge Janet Pilar Contreras Ortiz upheld the claim in part but increased the deduction to 24% of all monthly remuneration, including bonuses and benefits, applicable to his university position. This order was officially sent to the Congress of the Republic in October 2022, instructing them to execute the monthly deduction and deposit the funds into the plaintiff's bank account. The court also requested pay stubs and payrolls for specific periods. In June 2024, a liquidation of over S/11,000 for outstanding alimony payments between August 2021 and September 2022 was approved by the court, and Marticorena reportedly paid this amount. The newspaper attempted to obtain a statement from Marticorena regarding the judicial process and its execution but received no response by the time of publication. Recently, Marticorena, in his capacity as minister, attended a mining forum alongside President José María Balcázar.
This event highlights the critical importance of comprehensive financial disclosures for public officials, particularly concerning legal obligations like alimony payments. The disclosure of a court-ordered wage garnishment, confirmed by judicial records and subsequent payment liquidations, raises questions about transparency and due diligence in the vetting process for ministerial appointments. While the minister has now disclosed this information and reportedly settled outstanding amounts, the timeline of the legal proceedings and the eventual disclosure could be subject to scrutiny regarding adherence to ethical standards and public trust. Future vetting processes might benefit from enhanced checks on legal compliance and financial responsibilities to ensure appointees uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability from the outset of their public service.
AI-generated to prompt reflection — not editorial opinion, not advice, not a statement of fact. How this works.