Peruvian President José María Balcázar’s Chiclayo trips cost over S/1 million to the state

Official documents released by the Peruvian oversight body detail eleven trips President José María Balcázar made to his hometown of Chiclayo between February and April. The trips were carried out using Peruvian Air Force assets, including a Boeing 737‑500, a Spartan aircraft and MI‑17 helicopters, and together cost the state more than one million soles.

Balcázar’s office responded to a request for information from the Contraloría, asserting that the journeys were linked to the supervision of public works, that most travel was on commercial flights, and that only a single flight used the presidential plane. He also claimed he personally covered the expenses, noting that his wife resides in Chiclayo and the trips had family motives. The president questioned why similar scrutiny had not been applied to previous office‑holders and said he would cooperate with the investigation.