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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. Complaint Filed To Remove Vega Alta MayorVega Borges Begins First Day As NPP House Minority LeaderSenate Is Accepted At The PARLACENCruzado Laureano Removed From Political PostMacy's Picks Miss Universe To Ride In Thanksgiving Day ParadeMisla Aldarondo Released After Posting BailNPP Appoints New House Minority Leader
Government Files Complaint To Remove Vega Alta Mayor October 29, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - Gov. Sila Calderon, through Justice Secretary Anabelle Rodriguez, officially filed on Monday a complaint to remove Popular Democratic Party Vega Alta Mayor Juan M. Cruzado Laureano from his post "for illegal and immoral conduct in the performance of his duties." The legal document details the eleven accusations against Cruzado Laureano, who is in his first term as mayor. A federal grand jury accused Cruzado Laurano last week of money laundering, extortion, and tampering with witnesses. He was arrested and jailed for a night at the federal prison.
Vega Borges Begins First Day As NPP House Minority Leader By Proviana Colon Diaz October 29, 2001 New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. Anibal Vega Borges officially began his duties as the new House minority leader of the NPP delegation on Monday. Vega Borges assumes the post after Misla Aldarondo resigned it on Friday. Although he was asked to quit his post at the House, Misla Aldarondo said he will continue to hold his chair as elected legislator until the due process of law is completed. Misla added that under the current system of law everybody is presumed innocent until proven guilty and as such he will continue to serve his duties as the elected legislator that he is. With those statements, the former House speaker declined to obey the petition of NPP President Carlos Pesquera, who upon electing Misla's replacement for the post of minority leader on Friday said the veteran legislator should renounce to all his duties at the Legislature. "I have the highest respect for the party president. I made the decision I had to make [quit as minority leader] so that the House president and fellow representatives would feel most comfortable," Misla Aldarondo said.
Senate Is Accepted At The PARLACEN October 29, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - The Puerto Rico Senate was unanimously accepted as a permanent observer of the Central American Parliament in Guatemala, also known as PARLACEN, according to published reports. The incorporation of the island to the PARLACEN took place during the first plenary session of the 2001-2002 directorate of the regional body, which is presided over by Salvadoran Rodrigo Samoya. Senate President Antonio Fas Alzamora committed himself before the Central American parliaments "to fight without rest to bring the recommendations and resolutions of the PARLACEN into a reality that is beneficial for Central America and the Caribbean." Puerto Rico Puerto Rico has been a U.S. Commonwealth since 1952, which is why it lacks diplomatic representation in the world and its participation in international organisms is limited.
Suspended Vega Alta Mayor Removed From Political Post October 27, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - The suspended mayor of Vega Alta, Juan Cruzado Laureano, who was accused this week of corruption, was removed from his political post in the Popular Democratic Party by order of the party's president, Gov. Sila Calderon. The action is temporary, while the 11 charges filed Wednesday by the federal authorities are aired out. The governor had already requested the permanent expulsion of Cruzado Laureano from his post as mayor. Cruzado Laureano is accused of illegally appropriating approximately $28,000, a product of extortion and bribery to Vega Alta businesspeople, during the third month of this his first term as an elected official. He is also accused of obstruction of justice.
Macy's Picks Miss Universe To Ride In Thanksgiving Day Parade October 26, 2001 NEW YORK (AP) - The organizers of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade have invited Miss Universe to participate this year instead of Miss America, who traditionally has had the honor. Miss America Katie Harman of Oregon had planned to ride in the Nov. 22 parade, but organizers told her this week that they'd already invited Miss Universe Denise Quiñones. Miss America Pageant winners have appeared in the parade since the 1960s, although some have missed it because of scheduling conflicts. Three of the last five winners before Harman participated. "It's very disappointing, and we haven't really been given any reasons for the change," the 21-year-old Harman told the New York Post in a story published Friday. According to the Post, Donald Trump, co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, pulled strings to get Quiñones into the parade. Not so, said Macy's spokeswoman Ronnie Taffet. No one with the Macy's parade ever talked to Trump about it, she said. In the meantime, Macy's officials - who last year opened a store in San Juan, Puerto Rico - learned that Quiñones was from Puerto Rico and liked the idea of including her, Taffet said. "Our intention was not to disappoint or upset Miss America. The intention, as always, is to put on the most exciting parade the world's ever seen. We apologize for what seems to be slighting her," Taffet said. She said there have been talks about including both Miss America and Miss Universe in the parade.
Misla Aldarondo Released After Being Imposed A $600,000 Bail By Proviana Colon Diaz October 26, 2001 New Progressive Party House Minority Leader Edison Misla Aldarondo was released on Friday afternoon after being imposed a $600,000 bail pending trial on charges of bribery, extortion, money laundering and witness tampering. Flanked by his family, the former House Speaker left the courthouse on Friday sustaining his innocence and his decision to remain in his post as legislator. "You received a press release that I issued late last night, where I state my decision to renounce to my post as minority leader, not as legislator," Misla said. The former house speaker was also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of interference with interstate commerce by extortion in connection with the alleged use of his political influence to obtain the management contract and later purchase of the Manati Area Hospital, by one of his childhood friends, doctor Jose Ivan Ramos Cubano.
NPP Appoints New House Minority Leader October 26, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - New Progressive Party (NPP) President Carlos Pesquera announced the appointment of NPP Rep. Anibal Vega Borges as the new House minority leader, after asking for Edison Misla Aldarondo's resignation to the post. Misla Aldarondo was accused Friday of six counts of corruption. "This is an unpleasant situation.it is a sad day.and it causes us a lot of worry, but we must ask Misla (Aldarondo) to resign his post as representative," Pesquera said during a press conference held at the NPP headquarters in Santurce. Pesquera explained that the NPP representatives met early Friday after knowing of Misla Aldarondo's arrest, and decided to appoint Vega Borges as House minority leader. For his part, NPP Secretary General Angel Cintron said the election of a candidate to occupy Misla Aldarondo's seat in the House will be done through a primary event at the San Juan fourth precinct. Cintron said the seat belongs to the NPP and the rules of the party state that's the way it should be done.
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