Marino Vinicio Castillo (Vincho) told the Listin Diario that former captain Quirino Paulino Castillo, accused in New York and Santo Domingo courts of drug smuggling, and former presidential advisor and supervisor of public works Hernani Salazar together lobbied during a visit to the border with Minister of Armed Forces Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez for the appointment of General Virgilio Sierra Perez as chief of the Air Force. Sierra Perez at the time was the commander in Puerto Plata. Salazar has sued lawyer Vincho Castillo for his statements linking the senator to drug smuggling. Castillo said that five days after Sierra Perez was named by then President Fernandez. Castillo said that the former army captain was a frequent visitor to the Presidential Palace and was seen frequently talking to Hernani in the office of the legal advisor to the President. The legal advisor at the time was Guido Gomez Mazara. Castillo told the Listin Diario that there are ties between Quirino and Hernani, and advised an investigation into the Colibri helicopter used by Quirino. Castillo made his statements when interviewed by
Danny Alcantara on Channel 5’s Programa Matinal.