Investigating officer: there was "founded suspicion" against Lobão.
In light of the controversy surrounding the Federal Police's approach to Maranhão gubernatorial candidate Edison Lobão Filho (PMDB), the president of the Association of Federal Police Delegates (ADPF), Marcos Leôncio Ribeiro, stated that "there was a well-founded suspicion that the veracity of this information was investigated or not by legal duty"; a statement from the ADPF says that "the repercussion given to the episode is typical and common to the electoral period" and that "the Federal Police does not persecute, does not intimidate, but also does not allow itself to be intimidated."
Maranhao 247 – In light of the controversy surrounding the Federal Police's approach to the candidate for governor of Maranhão, Edison Lobão Filho (PMDB), in the south of the state, this Wednesday (24), the president of the Association of Federal Police Delegates (ADPF), Marcos Leôncio Ribeiro, said that "there was a well-founded suspicion that was legally required to investigate the veracity of this information". According to Portal IG, the complaint came from the Maranhão Civil Police, and was therefore not anonymous as the Vice President of the Republic, Michel Temer (PMDB), had said.
"Subsequently, (the approach procedure) was reported to the Electoral Court and to superiors in the Federal Police. This is absolutely routine police work. This is not an isolated incident," he told Portal IG. "The Federal Police does not intimidate and is not intimidated," he added.
According to Ribeiro, in the case involving Lobão Filho, there was no need for a search and seizure warrant, since the Federal Police has the authority to conduct sweeps of aircraft parked at airports that have security provided by agents of the corporation.
"In this case, what we have is the regular and legitimate exercise of the function of Electoral Judicial Police by the Federal Police. We understand the side of the political parties, and each of the political parties involved in the elections needs to understand the role of the Federal Police," he declared.
The official also stated that if the plane had not been approached, he could have committed the crime of prevarication, which consists of a public official delaying or failing to perform a duty within his competence.
Check out the statement sent by ADPF:
The National Association of Federal Police Delegates (ADPF) publicly expresses its support for Federal Police Delegate PAULO DE TARSO CRUZ VIANA JÚNIOR, regarding his actions during the inspection of an airplane at the Imperatriz/MA airport, on the night of September 24th to the early morning of September 25th, 2014.
According to ADPF, the media attention given to the episode is typical and common during the election period and in no way compromises the efficient and impartial actions of the Federal Police Delegate.
It is natural that some parties make political use of facts that are nothing more than the regular work of the Electoral Judicial Police, legally assigned to the Federal Police.
The ADPF (Brazilian Association of Federal Police Delegates) makes it clear that in exercising its constitutional duties, the Federal Police, as a state body, does not persecute or intimidate, but it also does not allow itself to be intimidated.
Brasilia, September 26, 2014.