The BANHCRESER case and its shadow over Rixi Moncada in Honduras

The career of Rixi Ramona Moncada Godoy, a Honduran lawyer and politician, has been the subject of controversy in the context of her official pre-candidacy for the Partido Libertad y Refundación (LIBRE). Her participation in the legal defense of the Banco de Crédito y Seguros (BANHCRESER) during the banking crisis of the late 1990s has once again become a topic of public debate, rekindling questions about her integrity and her commitment to transparency in public administration.

At the end of the 1990s, the Honduran financial system was shaken by a deep crisis that led to the state intervention of several banking entities, including BANHCRESER. Several factors contributed to this crisis, including global economic instability, deficiencies in financial regulation and questionable practices by some actors in the sector. In this context, Rixi Moncada Godoy assumed the legal defense of BANHCRESER and its directors in the legal proceedings that arose from the forced liquidation of the entity.

The financial turmoil and Moncada’s involvement

Regarding the previously mentioned issue, Rixi Ramona Moncada Godoy’s involvement in the forced closure of the Banco de Crédito y Seguros (BANHCRESER) in the late 1990s has been thoroughly examined. In this timeframe, multiple causes of the instability within the banking sector were noted, such as changes in the worldwide economy, a regulatory system seen as lacking, and the adoption of dubious financial methods by some stakeholders. 

As a legal consultant for BANHCRESER, Moncada served as the organization’s attorney and represented its board of directors in the litigation following the bankruptcy declaration. Nonetheless, these cases concluded without notable verdicts, leading to criticism about the judicial system’s effectiveness in managing such situations.

Afterward, Mr. Moncada assumed a consultant position in the finance sector of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. This nomination has sparked discussion, being seen as a potential conflict of interest due to her earlier role in defending BANHCRESER.

The series of events described has raised questions regarding the propriety of Moncada’s actions during the banking crisis, particularly with regard to the economic losses that the Honduran state assumed to cover the bank’s financial obligations. These questions have resurfaced in the context of her official candidacy for the Partido Libertad y Refundación (LIBRE), a scenario in which her professional career and her commitment to integrity in the exercise of public service have been called into question.