70 logins after retirement
The technical heart of the investigation is a report by the Guardia Civil's technology-investigation unit. According to it, between 1 March and 29 December 2023 — up to nine months after his retirement — Setién is said to have logged in remotely 70 times to the servers of the planning department and Geursa. Spread over 64 days, with a total duration of almost 158 hours, during which, the report says, 235 files and documents of the municipal administration were accessed.
This was allegedly possible through a VPN remote access set up with the credentials of the then Geursa manager, Marina Más. Investigators see this as a ploy to disguise external access: a private individual could thus reach confidential information, strategic maps and pending procedures without any administrative or legal control. Más and the Geursa lawyer Luis Pérez are treated as co-suspects; the company Geursa itself is also a suspect. The presumption of innocence applies to all.
«De facto chief» — the central thesis
In its report of more than a hundred pages, the Guardia Civil draws a clear conclusion: Setién allegedly kept running urban planning «de facto». His interventions in tenders, EU funding and strategic plans showed, investigators say, that the town hall's official decisions were in reality the execution of his personal instructions — issued from a private home, through unofficial channels.
The analysed chats reveal a tone said to illustrate this hierarchy. In one message the manager writes to Setién: «I'm here for what I'm here for, BOSS» — capitals in the original. Investigators read this as an indication that the formal chief was subordinate to the pensioner.
Keys, stamps, and a note on shredding files
The suspicion is not limited to the digital sphere. During the house search, investigators say they found three physical keys to municipal offices as well as official stamps reading «Certified» and «Head of Service». Particularly sensitive: handwritten notes that, according to the report, ordered the «destruction of tender documents». The Guardia Civil concludes that Setién allegedly also had physical access to the offices outside working hours — and thus the opportunity for manipulation.
Where the trail leads: business interests
Why all this? One line of investigation revolves around possible third-party business interests. In focus is the businessman Felipe Guerra, also a suspect. Setién is said in the report to have mediated to get outstanding municipal invoices paid faster in favour of Guerra's web of companies — a «preferential financial management before the administration», as investigators put it. Guerra's daughter is named as the contact between Setién, Geursa and the family. Another trail leads to an architecture firm.
Prominent political names also appear in the chats — such as the former mayor and current deputy head of the Gran Canaria island council, Augusto Hidalgo, with whom Setién is said to have exchanged messages on planning matters, and a Socialist MP who sought advice via WhatsApp on the Canarian housing rules. An important clarification: these people are not suspects; their appearance in the messages is context, not an accusation.
What this means for the islands
The Valka case touches a sensitive nerve. Wherever land is valuable, urban planning is a gateway for influence — and on the Canaries, where every square metre of building land and every tourist licence is fought over, especially so. What investigators describe is the picture of an administration whose formal control allegedly dissolved in favour of personal influence. The fact that encrypted hard drives and dismantled servers hampered the Guardia Civil's work further fuels doubts about the town hall's internal security and oversight mechanisms.
For citizens, more is at stake than a single official: it is the basic assumption that public decisions are taken in government offices and are traceable for everyone — not in a private home via secret remote access. The proceedings are an investigation, not a verdict; nothing has yet been proven. But the sheer level of detail in the report makes Valka one of the most explosive administrative scandals Las Palmas has seen in a long time.
As of 05.06.2026. Sources include the Guardia Civil report, Canarias7, eldiario.es, Libertad Digital. This is an ongoing investigation; all allegations are unproven in court. The presumption of innocence applies to all suspects. People named but not charged are mentioned solely for context.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Valka case?
An investigation into an alleged «parallel management structure» in the urban planning of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. At its centre is the allegation that a retired official effectively kept running planning.
Who is the main suspect?
José Manuel Setién, until March 2023 the planning coordinator and head of the municipal company Geursa. According to the Guardia Civil, he accessed municipal servers via VPN even afterwards. The presumption of innocence applies.
What exactly is he accused of?
70 remote logins using someone else's credentials, effectively running planning from home, possession of office keys and stamps, and alleged mediation in favour of a businessman. None of this has yet been proven in court.
Are politicians suspects?
No. Politicians mentioned in chats, such as former mayor Augusto Hidalgo or a Socialist MP, are not part of the list of suspects. Their appearance is context, not an accusation.
What happens next?
The case is at the preliminary-inquiry stage. The investigating judge and the anti-corruption prosecutor are analysing devices and files. There is no verdict; whether charges will be brought is open.