|
Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí.
Governor: Rodriguez's Resignation Overdue
Controller To Audit Parties
$3B For Public Works
Tax Evasion Secretary Proposed
Pesquera Presents Anti-Corruption Bills
Cruzado Laureano Pleads Not Guilty
Calderon: Cabinet No Political Quotas
SIP Designated To Investigate Maribel
Governor: Rodriguez's Resignation Overdue
By Proviana Colon Diaz
January 31, 2002
Copyright © 2002 PRWOW News Service. All rights reserved.
HUMACAO-Gov. Sila Calderon said Thursday that Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Sen. Maribel Rodriguez's resignation from her post is long overdue and urged the Arecibo District senator to meditate on the possibility of leaving the Senate.
"It's time, long overdue, for the senator to profoundly meditate about the possibility of resigning," Calderon said.
Calderon's statements come two days after the Special Independent Prosecutor (SIP) announced its decision to prosecute the rookie senator for theft of public funds, which carries a fixed 10-year penalty, and for violations to the Government Ethic Code by using her post for personal benefit, which carries a one-year sentence if convicted.
The governor added that Rodriguez should quit her post "at least" until the allegations are seen in court and the matter is resolved to avoid further "lacerations of the people's trust." According to Calderon, as a result of the recent corruption schemes, island residents are not safe, more so when they see cases such as the one of Rodriguez, where people continue to remain active in their posts.
Controller To Audit Parties
January 31, 2002
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
SAN JUAN (AP) - At least 12 auditors from the Commonwealth Comptroller's Office will initiate an investigation of the transactions performed by the three major political parties with electoral funds.
Commonwealth Comptroller Manuel Diaz Saldaña indicated that the audits will cover the last 10 years.
"We are going to request information from the political parties, the Treasury Department, and the State Elections Commission (SEC) over the public funds used," Saldaña said in a press conference.
The official took the opportunity to request the Legislature and Gov. Sila Calderon to authorize the comptroller to audit the private donations received by the political parties.
According to Diaz Saldana, the function of revising and supervising political campaigns is exclusively of the SEC, with the supervision of the political parties.
"We have the resources and the disposition... What we need is the faculty in law to do the work," Diaz Saldaña insisted.
Diaz Saldaña made his expressions in a press conference, where he announced the First Conference on Administrative Excellence that will be held Feb. 6.
$3B For Public Works
January 31, 2002
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
SAN JUAN (AP) - After several financial transactions, the Government Development Bank (GDB) has close to $3 billion to grant loans to finance public works that it was unable to finance at the beginning of this administration, GDB President Juan Agosto Alicea said.
Agosto Alicea said in published reports that at the moment, the GDB is solid enough to finance works for permanent improvements without having to borrow money from public bonds for a long time.
"The bank may go all year without going to the [bond] market, and that is important because the economy is unpredictable, although it has been said that there will be a boost in the upcoming months," Agosto Alicea added.
He also noted that the issuing of bonds, usually done every year, may be done with no hurry until economic conditions improve, because the GDB is able to finance the works for the time being.
Agosto Alicea said the bond issuing this year should be close to the $475 million of last year.
Treasury To Create Deputy Secretary For Tax Evasion
January 30, 2002
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
MAYAGUEZ (AP) - With the purpose of fighting the "underground economy" and income tax evasion, Treasury Secretary Juan Flores Galarza announced his plan to create a deputy secretary who is expected to recover millions that right now does not go to the government budget.
Flores Galarza, a former Treasury employee who worked with other Treasury secretaries, explained that most of the money could help balance the budget.
Although economists estimate the underground economy at a thousand million, Flores Galarza estimates this movement at $200 million.
Flores Galarza didn't specify when the office will be operating, although he did state that his plans are directed to have it in place before April 15.
Pesquera Presents Anti-Corruption Bills
By Proviana Colon Diaz
January 30, 2002
Copyright © 2002 PRWOW News Service. All rights reserved.
New Progressive Party (NPP) Legislative Conference President Carlos Pesquera, along with members of the minority delegation in both the House and the Senate, announced Wednesday the filing of eight bills aimed at fighting corruption.
Pesquera, who is also NPP president, made the announcement at noon in a House of Representatives hearing room.
Among the bills filed is an initiative that will prohibit the government to hire the advertising agency used to run the elected governor's electoral campaign and another bill will enforce all party volunteers to register where their salaries come from.
Cruzado Laureano Pleads Not Guilty To New Federal Charges
January 30, 2002
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
SAN JUAN (AP) - Former Vega Alta Mayor Juan Manuel Cruzado Laureano, who was removed from his post after being accused by the federal authorities, declared not guilty on three new charges presented against him.
U.S. Magistrate Gustavo Gelpi did not change the liberty conditions imposed on the former mayor, who already has been charged with 11 counts of money laundering, extortion, and interference of interstate commerce, among others.
Cruzado Laureano, elected to his first tenure for the Popular Democratic Party (PDP), declined to comment as he exited the federal building in Hato Rey.
The former mayor denied that he would be negotiating with the U.S. Prosecutor's Office to obtain a less severe sentence and said he will not declare himself guilty of the charges.
If found guilty, Cruzado Laureano could face a sentence of 20 years or a $50,000 fine, the FBI Office confirmed.
Cruzado Laureano's former spouse, PDP Sen. Maribel Rodriguez, is also the subject of an investigation by a Special Independent Prosecutor for the alleged illegal use of public funds during a trip to the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York, while she was accompanied by then husband, Cruzado Laureano.
Calderon: Cabinet Members Will Never Have Political Quotas
January 30, 2002
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
SAN JUAN (AP) - Gov. Sila Calderon said a line must be drawn between governing and politicking, and she assured that no member of her Cabinet has a quota for political fund collections.
"No Cabinet head in my administration has ever had a quota and will never have one. You can be sure of that," the governor said at the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration offices in Washington, according to published reports.
She added that the political has to be separated from the governing, and the line must be clearly defined.
Calderon said as personnel chief of former Gov. Rafael Hernandez's administration, she was never involved in the political campaign.
SIP Designated To Investigate Maribel Rodriguez Hernandez
January 30, 2002
Copyright © 2002 PRWOW News Service. All rights reserved.
Justice Secretary Anabelle Rodriguez said she was satisfied with the determination taken Tuesday afternoon by the panel of former judges of the Special Independent Prosecutor's (SIP) Office, which designated a SIP to investigate Sen. Maribel Rodriguez Hernandez.
"The Justice Department Public Integrity Division's investigation, included in the report referred to the SIP panel, reveals that Rodriguez Hernandez incurred in an improper and illegal conduct," the Justice secretary explained.
The Justice chief's petition was accepted by the SIP panel, which determined Tuesday that there is sufficient base to establish that Rodriguez Hernandez violated the dispositions of Article 166 A of the Penal Code (illegal appropriation of public funds) and Article 3.2 (c) of the Governmental Ethics Law.
The panel designated Jose Emilio Gonzalez Velasquez as the SIP to investigate and analyze all the evidence and information gathered on this matter and determine if any accusations against Rodriguez Hernandez will be presented.
| 
