Latin American Herald Tribune
April 25, 2009
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=332786&CategoryId=12394
ASUNCION – Paraguay's president, former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo, apologized for the scandal of the paternity suits he is facing and said he will complete his term in office, which ends in August 2013.
"I, an imperfect human being, the product of historical processes, a profile of my culture, will assume all the responsibilities present and future for those situations in which I am involved, not only with an attitude of respect for justice and truth, but with love and caring," the head of state said.
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Lugo, following the two recent paternity suits filed against him and after acknowledging a 2-year-old child as his son, said that "while repeatedly asking for pardon I remain, at the same time, the president of Paraguay elected to promote change with no going back, change that will not be stopped."
"In no way will I allow these circumstances to affect in the slightest works of national interest, the execution of great plans and projects paving the way for the Paraguay everyone dreams of," the president said.
The president was forced to acknowledge having intimate relations with the mother of the 2-year-old, Viviana Carrillo, when he was still bishop of San Pedro, as well as the paternity of the minor, after two attorneys filed suit.
After that case was made public, two other women claimed to have had children by Lugo, with one of them also taking him to court.
She is Benigna Leguizamon, 27, who is seeking acknowledgment of paternity as well as child support.
Almost at the same time, Damiana Hortensia Moran Amarilla, 39, told reporters that she conceived another child, 16-month-old Juan Pablo, with the head of state. EFE
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