Spadafora's murder badly damaged Noriega's image, both within and outside Panama, and created a crisis for the Panamanian regime. Barletta, who was in New York City when Spadafora was murdered in September 1985, announced his intention to appoint an independent commission to investigate the murder. Upon his return to Panama, however, he was forced to resign by the PDF and was replaced by Vice President Eric Arturo Delvalle. Barletta was highly regarded in the Reagan administration, and his removal brought a downturn in the relations between the U.S. and Noriega. After Spadafora's murder the U.S. began to view Noriega as a liability rather than an asset, despite his ongoing support for U.S. interventions elsewhere. The U.S. response included reducing economic assistance and pressuring Panama to reform its banking secrecy laws, crack down on narcotics trafficking, investigate the murder of Spadafora, and reduce the PDF's role in the government. The response to Spadafora's murder created divisions within the PRD, and further damaged the credibility of the government-controlled news media.
Spadafora's murder badly damaged Noriega's image both within and outside Panama and created a crisis for the Panamanian regime Barletta who was in New York City when Spadafora was murdered in September 1985 announced his intention to appoint an independent commission to investigate the murder Upon his return to Panama however he was forced to resign by the PDF and was replaced by Vice President Eric Arturo Delvalle Barletta was highly regarded in the Reagan administration and his removal brought a downturn in the relations between the US and Noriega After Spadafora's murder the US began to view Noriega as a liability rather than an asset despite his ongoing support for US interventions elsewhere The US response included reducing economic assistance and pressuring Panama to reform its banking secrecy laws crack down on narcotics trafficking investigate the murder of Spadafora and reduce the PDF's role in the government The response to Spadafora's murder created divisions within the PRD and further damaged the credibility of the government-controlled news media