Petro Seeks to Distance Himself From Colombian Graft Scandal.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has acknowledged the presence of "structural corruption" within the nation's institutions, distancing himself from a recent bribery scandal involving his allies. Petro, known for leading anti-corruption investigations in congress in the past, emphasized that corruption exists across all political parties and corners. Former officials at the government's disaster prevention agency have been accused of diverting funds meant for providing drinking water to a poverty-stricken desert region in order to bribe congress members to support Petro's reforms. The scandal may pose challenges for the government's pension reform efforts in congress. [Extracted from the article]