Máximo Agustín Mantilla Campos (December 10, 1944 – November 20, 2015) was a Peruvian

economist An economist is a professional and practitioner in the social sciences, social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy. Within this ...

, sociologist and

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. Considered by analysts as one of the most powerful political figures in

Alan García Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez (; 23 May 1949 – 17 April 2019) was a Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. He was the second leader of the American Popula ...

's first administration, he served as Deputy Minister and subsequently as Minister of the Interior during the most tense years of the

Peruvian internal conflict The internal conflict in Peru is an armed conflict between the Government of Peru and the Marxism–Leninism–Maoism, Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path. The conflict's main phase began on 17 May 1980 and ended in December 2000. From 1982 to ...

between the Peruvian government and the terrorist organizations, the

Shining Path The Shining Path (, SL), self-named the Communist Party of Peru (, abbr. PCP), is a far-left political party and guerrilla group in Peru, following Marxism–Leninism–Maoism and Gonzalo Thought. Academics often refer to the group as the ...

and the

Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement The Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (, abbreviated MRTA) was a Peruvian Marxist-Leninist guerrilla army which started in the early 1980s. Their self-declared goal was to demonstrate to leftist groups in Peru that sought change through the ...

. Accused of leading a paramilitary

death squad A death squad is an armed group whose primary activity is carrying out extrajudicial killings, massacres, or enforced disappearances as part of political repression, genocide, ethnic cleansing, or revolutionary terror. Except in rare cases in w ...

organization in the late 1980s, he denied the existence and his involvement in the organization throughout his career until 2013, where he admitted to the execution of suspected terrorists. He was sentenced to six years in prison based on charges of corruption as he was caught on videotape receiving bribes in one of

Vladimiro Montesinos Vladimiro Lenin Ilich Montesinos Torres (; born May 20, 1945) is a Peruvian former intelligence officer and lawyer, most notorious for his role as the head of Peru's National Intelligence Service (SIN) during the presidency of Alberto Fujimor ...

secret video recordings at the National Intelligence Service headquarters, in exchange for the Peruvian Aprista Party's support of President

Alberto Fujimori Alberto Kenji Fujimori Fujimori (26 July 1938 – 11 September 2024) was a Peruvian politician, professor, and engineer who served as the 54th president of Peru from 1990 to 2000.* * * * * * * Born in Lima, Fujimori was the country's fir ...

's administration in 2000.

Early life and education

Mantilla was born in

Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...

on December 10, 1944. Upon finishing high school, he joined the Peruvian Aprista Party in October 1965, and from early on he was strongly linked with the party base of the

Pueblo Libre District Pueblo Libre (Spanish for "free village" or "free nation"), formerly known as La Magdalena and commonly known as Old Magdalena () to differentiate it from Magdalena del Mar District, is a district of Lima Province in Peru. Created by Law 9162 o ...

. He was admitted to the

National University of San Marcos The National University of San Marcos (, UNMSM) is a public university, public research university located in Lima, the capital of Peru. In the Americas, it is the first officially established (Privilege (legal ethics), privilege by Charles V, ...

in 1965, where he graduated with a degree in economics. Afterwards, he enrolled in the

Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University The Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University (UIGV) is a private university located in the city of Lima, Peru. Founded on December 21, 1964, during the first government of President Fernando Belaúnde Terry. It is currently in the period of cessation ...

, where he studied

Sociology Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...

Career

In 1970, he worked at the Fishing Consortium, in the fishmeal business; then in the fishmeal and fish oil trading company EPCHAP, and in Pescaperú.

Political career

Early political career

Upon finishing high school, he enrolled in the Peruvian Aprista Party in October 1965, and from early on he was strongly linked with the party base of the

. Following his experience in the fishing sector, he was introduced to the inner circle of the Peruvian Aprista Party. Upon meeting

in 1977, he served as his Private Secretary from 1979 to 1985. From 1981 to 1983, he was a member of the District Council of

Pueblo Libre Pueblo Libre ( Spanish for "free village" or "free nation"), formerly known as La Magdalena and commonly known as Old Magdalena () to differentiate it from Magdalena del Mar District, is a district of Lima Province in Peru. Created by Law 9162 ...

. Between 1985 and 1989, he held the position of Deputy Minister of the Interior. He was briefly appointed Minister of the Presidency from March to May 1989, and as

Interior Minister An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a Cabinet (government), cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and iden ...

from May 1989 to July 1990. During his tenure as Minister of the Interior, he was accused of leading the supposed paramilitary command "Rodrigo Franco", with the task of eliminating suspected terrorists. The organization has been classified as a government death squad authorized by Alan García's first administration, although no proof was found in the following investigations against Mantilla and the supposed

Peruvian Army The Peruvian Army (, abbreviated EP) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with safeguarding the independence, sovereignty and integrity of national territory on land through military force. Additional missions include assistance in s ...

officials that were indicted members of the squad.

Congressman

In 1992, upon

's request for political asylum granted by the

Colombian government The Government of Colombia is a republic with separation of powers into executive, judicial and legislative branches. Its legislature has a congress, its judiciary has a supreme court, and its executive branch has a president. The citiz ...

, Mantilla was chosen as his successor as Secretary General of the party, in December 1992. In his position as the highest ranking party leader at the

1995 Peruvian general election 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...

, Mantilla was elected to the newly unicameral

Peruvian Congress The Congress of the Republic of Peru () is the unicameral body that assumes legislative power in Peru. Due to broadly interpreted impeachment wording in the Constitution of Peru, the President of Peru can be removed by Congress without cause, ...

alongside 7 other representatives of his party. He was succeeded in the Secretariat by former Second Vice President and 1990 presidential nominee, Luis Alva Castro. In the 2000 general election, Mantilla lost his seat as he attained a low number of votes.

Trial, corruption charges and conviction

Following his congressional tenure and the 2000 general election, it was revealed to the media that Mantilla received US$30,000 from presidential advisor and Intelligence Chief

on March 13, 2000, destined for party funds in exchange for political support of

's regime. In 2002, the Supreme Court sentenced Mantilla to six years in prison for corruption charges in detriment of the Peruvian Government. Subsequently, he was expelled from the Peruvian Aprista Party. Upon his release from prison in 2006, Mantilla kept a low profile in the years to come. Cited by investigative committees relating to the paramilitary command he was accused of leading, he kept denying his involvement and the existence of such organization until 2013, when he admitted the existence of the organization, but without the government's knowledge or consent.

Death

Mantilla died on November 20, 2015, at his home in

, due to

diabetes Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...

at the age of 70.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mantilla, Agustin 1944 births 2015 deaths Politicians from Lima 20th-century Peruvian economists Peruvian sociologists American Popular Revolutionary Alliance politicians Members of the Congress of the Republic of Peru National University of San Marcos alumni Peruvian politicians convicted of crimes People convicted of bribery Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University alumni 20th-century Peruvian politicians