José Isabel Blandón Castillo

José Isabel Blandón Castillo (born c. 1944^[1]) was a close adviser to Panama's Dictator Manuel Noriega; he was described in 1988 by The Washington Post as "one of [Noriega's] oldest and closest advisers",^[2] and became a "key informant" in Noriega's drug-related prosecution in the United States.^[3]

Career

Blandón was a "senior intelligence officer" in Panama^[4] and said in 1988 that as "chief of political intelligence" until 1986 he had had access to classified military intelligence reports, including reports from the US.^[5]

Blandón was Panama's Consul-General in New York when he was dismissed by Noriega in January 1988.^[2] He had been the author of a so-called "Blandon Plan" which he said Noriega had asked him to devise in mid-1987, on how to transition to a more democratic government, with Noriega stepping down.^[2]

Blandón's 1988 testimony to the US Senate's Kerry Committee included allegations about the Panamanian links to the Iran-Contra affair,^[6]^[5]^[7] and claims that the CIA had aided in covering up the 1985 assassination by Noriega of government critic Hugo Spadafora.^[8]

The father of Panamanian legislator José Isabel Blandón Figueroa, his son's disapproval of Blandón's position as a top aide to Manuel Noriega helped push Blandón to defecting.^[9]

References

^ The Washington Post, 2 February 1988, Noriega Corruption Rampant, Ex-Aide Charges
^ ^a ^b ^c The Washington Post, 19 January 1988, Blandon Worked Behind Scenes With Opposition, U.S. : Adviser Tried to Arrange Graceful Noriega Exit
^ Associated Press, 22 February 1988, Senator Asks CIA Probe on Blandon Testimony
^ Los Angeles Times, 9 December 1990, DEA Source Tied to Noriega Tapes : Media: The ex-dictator's opponent reportedly leaked recordings to CNN. He was said to be assisting federal agency in gathering evidence in the drug case.
^ ^a ^b New York Times, 10 February 1988, Consul Asserts C.I.A. Aided in Panama Cover-Up
^ New York Times, 4 February 1988, A U.S. Frame-Up of Nicaragua Charged
^ Chicago Tribune, 10 February 1988, Fired Aid Says Noriega Received Cia Reports
^ The Morning Call, 9 March 1988, House Panel: Put Squeeze On Panama
^ Los Angeles Times, 15 February 1988, Father's 'Attempt to Redeem' Self : Son Prompted Defection, Anti-Noriega Testimony

[1] The Washington Post, 2 February 1988, Noriega Corruption Rampant, Ex-Aide Charges

[Post1988-2] The Washington Post, 19 January 1988, Blandon Worked Behind Scenes With Opposition, U.S. : Adviser Tried to Arrange Graceful Noriega Exit

[3] Associated Press, 22 February 1988, Senator Asks CIA Probe on Blandon Testimony

[4] Los Angeles Times, 9 December 1990, DEA Source Tied to Noriega Tapes : Media: The ex-dictator's opponent reportedly leaked recordings to CNN. He was said to be assisting federal agency in gathering evidence in the drug case.

[NYTaided-5] New York Times, 10 February 1988, Consul Asserts C.I.A. Aided in Panama Cover-Up

[6] New York Times, 4 February 1988, A U.S. Frame-Up of Nicaragua Charged

[7] Chicago Tribune, 10 February 1988, Fired Aid Says Noriega Received Cia Reports

[8] The Morning Call, 9 March 1988, House Panel: Put Squeeze On Panama

[9] Los Angeles Times, 15 February 1988, Father's 'Attempt to Redeem' Self : Son Prompted Defection, Anti-Noriega Testimony

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