Álvaro Sánchez and Christian Montero, journalists with Telenoticias at Teletica, were dismissed on May 23, 2025, following a controversial incident involving President Rodrigo Chaves.

Teletica, a major television channel in Costa Rica, confirmed their termination in a press release but did not provide further details regarding the reasons behind the decision.

The dismissal comes in the wake of President Chaves filing a lawsuit against Sánchez after he disclosed the president's personal phone number on his social media accounts.

Sánchez acknowledged that he posted an image of a document that included the private number, which he claimed had been circulating publicly prior to his post.

Sánchez, who had been with the network for 18 years, stated on his personal Facebook page that the publication of the number was a personal decision made independently of Teletica's endorsement.

He expressed personal accountability for the action, describing it as a mistake.

Montero, who had worked at Teletica for over nine years, subsequently shared Sánchez's post, contributing to the fallout from the incident.

As of this report, neither journalist has commented further on the matter.

The President's office released a statement outlining the legal action against both journalists, citing regulations set forth by the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data of Inhabitants (Prohab), which classifies personal phone numbers as restricted access information that must be protected.

This incident underscores ongoing tensions between media freedom and the privacy rights of public officials in Costa Rica, raising questions about the boundaries of journalistic practice in the digital age.