PETROPERU achieves the release of the workers held by the Chapis community

Yesterday, a group of natives of the Chapis Community, district of Manseriche, Province of Datem del Marañón, Loreto; took as hostages PETROPERÚ personnel and the subcontractor companies Servicorrosión and CORPESA, in the framework of the execution of the commitments assumed by PETROPERU and the coordination with the community of the preparatory acts for the participation of the company specializing in environmental remediation in the cleaning tasks of Km 221 of the North Branch Pipeline (ORN).

During the violent intervention, the natives managed to retain 19 people in the Chapis community. At the same time, five workers of the contractor company CORPESA fled in a canoe in order not to be subjected to these measures of force. Regrettably the ship overturned, and four of the people managed to reach Saramiriza and one of them is missing.

During the night hours, workers from the contractors were released. However, three people were held hostage, two of them workers of PETROPERÚ; the same ones who were released at midday today. Likewise, the search for the missing person identified as Richard Pérez Díaz is being carried out, with the support of the competent authorities.

PETROPERU and the authorities are making their best efforts to find the missing person and express their solidarity and commitment to the worker's family.

Likewise, the Company has been making the corresponding complaint against the community leaders who promoted these illicit measures and those responsible for these unfortunate events, who have been attacking the safety and lives of people with these reprehensible behaviors. It also requests that the authorities expedite the corresponding procedures and impose drastic sanctions.

PETROPERU informs that the communal authorities of Chapis do not guarantee the minimum conditions for the adjudication of the remediation service to be carried out in the community. In that sense, we will be reporting on the day, time and place where the event will take place.

Finally, attitudes such as those demonstrated by some residents of Chapis threaten the rule of law and violate citizens' rights, which does not contribute to attract the necessary investment in the Amazon to generate development and fight against poverty.