Trujillo mayoral candidates clash over legal backgrounds and party integrity

The mayoral campaign in Trujillo is intensifying as candidates Mario Reyna Rodríguez of Alianza para el Progreso (APP) and Robert De La Cruz Rosas of Podemos Perú exchange criticisms. Reyna has targeted De La Cruz, questioning his suitability for office due to his past legal defense of individuals linked to criminal organizations, including the patriarch of ‘Los Pulpos’ and members of ‘Los Malditos de Chicago’. De La Cruz has defended his professional legal work, characterizing the attacks as a ‘dirty war’ orchestrated by APP.

Separately, Reyna addressed the internal crisis within the APP party in La Libertad, attributing the organization's decline to the inclusion of individuals with questionable reputations in public administration. Reyna, who joined APP to coordinate regional projects, emphasized that he has personally selected his list of councilors to maintain independence from party leadership, specifically marking distance from César Acuña. His platform focuses on urban development, infrastructure, and enhancing security through artificial intelligence and expanded surveillance.