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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. Noriega: Rossello Either Returns Or Should Be Brought BackAcevedo Vila Lambastes Rossello Law
Noriega: Rossello Either Returns Or Should Be Brought Back April 14th, 2002 PONCE (AP) - If former Gov. Pedro Rossello doesn't return to Puerto Rico voluntarily to explain the corruption acts of his government during the past eight years, he should be brought back, said David Noriega, who chairs the Independent Citizens Committee for the Evaluation of Government Transactions, also known as the 'Blue Ribbon Committee.' "I don't lose hope that Rossello will either come back and explain or that he will be brought back," Noriega said in a radio interview. "Either he comes back or he should be brought back. He has to come here and explain what he knew and what he didn't know," Noriega added. Rossello has said he doesn't plan to return from Washington, where he lives now, to explain anything because he is private citizen and not a public figure. But Noriega said Rossello should return because he has loads of information to give. Noriega also censured Rossello for taking off right after the New Progressive Party lost the 2000 general elections, as he believes it showed a lack of commitment to Puerto Rico. Although admitting there is no proof linking Rossello to any acts of corruption, Noriega insisted it is the former governor's duty to talk about what he knows and doesn't know regarding the corruption acts that were committed during the past administration.
Resident Commissioner Lambastes Rossello Administration Law April 14th, 2002 PONCE (AP) - Resident Commissioner in Washington D.C. Anibal Acevedo Vila urged the Legislature to repeal a law approved during former Gov. Pedro Rossello's administration that allows former governors to organize foundations and libraries. Acevedo Vila said in Ponce the law represents trouble for the government's general fund, as it allows each former governor to receive over a million dollars. The resident commissioner believes that former governors should seek private funding for their libraries, foundations or the preservation of documents, just as it is done in the states. Acevedo Vila added that last year Rossello requested Gov. Sila Calderon's administration to transfer one million dollars for these purposes. The public official denied that his request to repeal the law is part of an effort to hinder former Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Gov. Rafael Hernandez Colon's plans to establish a library in Ponce. Hernandez Colon has had several differences with Calderon, president of the PDP. "The issue at this moment is Pedro Rossello's role," stated Acevedo Vila, who noted the need to have Rossello back in Puerto Rico to answer for the corruption acts that were detected in his administration. However, Rossello has said he is now a private citizen, thus he doesn't have to answer for any political issues discussed in Puerto Rico. "Stating that he has nothing to say because he is a private citizen is an act of cowardice," the resident commissioner stated, adding that Rossello cannot be considered a private citizen, as he receives public funds for his office expenses and there are legal opinions that may be applied in this case to determine that the former governor is a public figure.
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