Anel Flores, comptroller of the Republic of Panama, says at a press conference in Panama City that Panama did not receive $1.2 billion it was owed under Canal ports contract with Hong Kong firm CK Hutchison. "The actual damage to the Republic is around 1.2 billion dollars, at a rate of approximately 55 [billion] per year that we fail to collect as a country. These are the repercussions of this contract and of bad Panamanians." The release of the audit results came hours before US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was to arrive in Panama, which has come under strong pressure from Trump to reduce Chinese influence in the canal. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES TO COMPLETE 39G84WE_EN