Government Delegate Pilar Bernabé Lies Once Again

The Government Delegate in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé, has once again found herself at the center of controversy following her statements about the management of the emergency caused by the DANA on October 29. Bernabé has insisted that the CECOPI (Integrated Operational Coordination Center) meeting was convened exclusively online; however, the actual meeting notice indicates that attendance could be both in-person and virtual at the La Eliana Center.

The Government Delegate's explanations have been met with skepticism, as her arrival at the emergency center did not occur until six in the morning on October 30, ten hours after the alert was sent. In her attempt to justify this absence, she has submitted a document that explicitly states the meeting location, which contradicts her argument.

Another point of friction in this controversy is the role of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ) in managing the crisis. Bernabé has downplayed its involvement in CECOPI, despite the fact that the Special Plan for Flood Risk in the Valencian Community establishes that the president of the CHJ, Miguel Polo, is part of the advisory committee of this organization's management committee. Additionally, the plan indicates that his presence is mandatory when dam emergency plans are activated in level 2 or 3 scenarios, as occurred with the Forata dam on October 29.

Criticism of Bernabé also points to her role within CECOPI itself. As the Government Delegate, she was responsible for mobilizing the resources of the General State Administration, including security forces, to address the emergency. However, her actions have been questioned due to the lack of a rapid and coordinated response during the critical hours of the torrential rain episode.

This is compounded by the controversy over her statements about the President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón. Bernabé claimed that she saw him at the CECOPI meeting before the alert message was sent, something that has been refuted with official documentation. She also indicated that the alert was delayed because Mazón needed explanations before making decisions, a claim that has been refuted by the chronology of events.

The credibility of the Government Delegate has been called into question following these episodes. Her statements have caused a climate of political tension in which various sectors are demanding that she clarify the reasons why she has offered a version that doesn't correspond with the verified facts.