Ex-Cataño mayor Delgado breaks silence, acknowledges corruption
Says accusations are likely coming against current administration
By THE STAR STAFF
Former Cataño mayor Félix “El Cano” Delgado Montalvo publicly addressed the municipality’s special election on Monday, admitting past corruption and asserting that new accusations will soon surface against the current municipal administration.
Delgado made the statements in a Facebook post, his first public comment since questions emerged about his role in local political dynamics.
Delgado wrote that he had chosen to remain silent until now, but recent inquiries prompted him to speak.
“I committed acts of corruption for which I will repent for the rest of my life,” he said, adding that he served the prison term corresponding to his case and does not intend to hide or justify his past.
He described himself as someone who “knows firsthand how a high‑level corruption scheme can be organized and developed,” acknowledging that he participated in and helped design several such schemes. Delgado said he continues to carry the stigma of being labeled a corrupt official and plans to apologize to the people of Cataño, his family and those he wronged.
A central question circulating in recent days, among some observers, at least, has been whom Delgado supports in the special election. He stated that the only person he directly assisted was former mayor Julio Alicea Vasallo, who died of cancer in August. Delgado said Alicea personally sought his electoral support in 2023. The two men, he said, maintained ongoing conversations about municipal projects initiated under Delgado’s administration and currently in progress, including the Plaza Pública, Plaza del Mercado, Coliseo Cosme Beitia, the Puntilla apartments and Parque La Esperanza.
Delgado urged residents to vote “wisely” and according to conscience, adding a message of peace for residents of La Puntilla and the phrase “No to expropriations.”
He also pointed to alleged irregularities involving the current municipal administration. Delgado claimed that referrals made by the Office of the Comptroller to the Department of Justice involve misuse of public funds and municipal property, and that he believes accusations will follow. He argued that municipal officials should speak honestly to residents about a situation that, according to his account, involves public employees and relatives.
“Bad practices, wherever they come from and whoever commits them, must end,” Delgado wrote.
Alongside his statement, Delgado published screenshots of WhatsApp conversations with Alicea, showing exchanges about electoral structure and municipal projects. One screenshot dated July 21, 2023, shows Alicea sending a 12‑page PDF titled Funcionarios Elecciones Generales 2020 FDM.pdf, accompanied by instructions to verify and strengthen the electoral structure.
Another screenshot from July 12, 2023, shows Alicea writing, “We are going to do an RFP for your project in La Esperanza. Good project,” followed by “We decided yesterday.” The project is among those Delgado referenced in his post.
A third screenshot from Sept. 28, 2023, shows Alicea assuring Delgado that negotiations with a contractor were underway and that the project “will happen,” including La Esperanza.
Additional images depict a multi‑story building that Alicea described as “Your project,” adding that the groundbreaking would take place on July 5. “It’s yours. And I will say it,” Alicea wrote, later calling it “a great project.”
The screenshots appear to show ongoing coordination between the two men on electoral matters and municipal development plans.
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