José Isabel Blandón Castillo

José Isabel Blandón Castillo (born c. 1944[1]) was a close adviser to Panama's President Manuel Noriega; he was described in 1988 by The Washington Post as "one of [Noriega's] oldest and closest advisers",[2] and became a "key informant" in Noriega's drug-related prosecution in the United States.[3]

Career

Blandón was a "senior intelligence officer" in Panama[4] and said in 1988 that as "chief of political intelligence" until 1986 he had had access to classified military intelligence reports, including reports from the US.[5]

Blandón was Panama's Consul-General in New York when he was dismissed by Noriega in January 1988.[2] He had been the author of a so-called "Blandon Plan" which he said Noriega had asked him to devise in mid-1987, on how to transition to a more democratic government, with Noriega stepping down.[2]

Blandón's 1988 testimony to the US Senate's Kerry Committee included allegations about the Panamanian links to the Iran-Contra affair,[6][5][7] and claims that the CIA had aided in covering up the 1985 assassination by Noriega of government critic Hugo Spadafora.[8]

The father of Panamanian legislator José Isabel Blandón Figueroa, his son's disapproval of Blandón's position as a top aide to Manuel Noriega helped push Blandón to defecting.[9]

References

  1. ↑ The Washington Post, 2 February 1988, Noriega Corruption Rampant, Ex-Aide Charges
  2. 1 2 3 The Washington Post, 19 January 1988, Blandon Worked Behind Scenes With Opposition, U.S. : Adviser Tried to Arrange Graceful Noriega Exit
  3. ↑ Associated Press, 22 February 1988, Senator Asks CIA Probe on Blandon Testimony
  4. ↑ Los Angeles Times, 9 December 1990, DEA Source Tied to Noriega Tapes : Media: The ex-dictator's opponent reportedly leaked recordings to CNN. He was said to be assisting federal agency in gathering evidence in the drug case.
  5. 1 2 New York Times, 10 February 1988, Consul Asserts C.I.A. Aided in Panama Cover-Up
  6. ↑ New York Times, 4 February 1988, A U.S. Frame-Up of Nicaragua Charged
  7. ↑ Chicago Tribune, 10 February 1988, Fired Aid Says Noriega Received Cia Reports
  8. ↑ The Morning Call, 9 March 1988, House Panel: Put Squeeze On Panama
  9. ↑ Los Angeles Times, 15 February 1988, Father's 'Attempt to Redeem' Self : Son Prompted Defection, Anti-Noriega Testimony
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