3 Guatemalan officials resign to protest corruption scandals

A protester holds a sign that reads in Spanish "Otto, you're down," referring to President Otto Perez Molina, after the arrest of his former Vice President Roxana Baldetti, who was arrested in connection with a corruption scandal, in the Central Park of Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 21, 2015. Baldetti was detained Friday in connection with a customs corruption scandal that led to her resignation, and prosecutors announced they are also seeking to investigate the president in the matter. (AP Photo/Luis Soto) (The Associated Press)

GUATEMALA CITY – Two Guatemalan Cabinet ministers and a presidential appointee have resigned to protest a corruption scandal that threatens the presidency.

The ministers of the economy and education announced their resignations Saturday, as did President Otto Perez Molina's commissioner for competitiveness.

All three officials have ties to Guatemala's business chambers, which have called on Perez Molina to resign.

Former economy minister Sergio de la Torre said "we can no longer continue in this government," after ex-vice president Roxana Baldetti was detained Friday in connection with a customs corruption scandal that is believed to have defrauded the state of millions of dollars.

Attorney General Thelma Aldana said it is "highly probable that the president of the republic may have participated" in the corruption ring.