Guatemala City, October 30 (teleSUR-RHC)-- The president-elect of Guatemala, Jimmy Morales, pledged Wednesday to extend the mandate of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala for a further six years.  The current mandate for CICIG ends in 2017.

Morales promised during his campaign to renew its mandate. He made the commitment after meeting with the head of CICIG, Ivan Velasquez.

“I have offered (Morales) all our support: to help strengthen the national institutions so that the fight against corruption is a reality in the country,” said Velazquez.

The CICIG was first created in December 2006 by the United Nations on the request of the Guatemalan government. The body played a critical role in exposing a massive corruption scheme entailing a customs tax-fraud and contraband scheme. Dozens of public officials were implicated.

The work of the CICIG prompted massive street protests that led to the arrest of former President Otto Perez Molina, who eventually stepped down shortly before the first round of elections.