By The Star Staff
Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia on Wednesday signed into law House Bill (HB) 1779, authored by Rep. José “Conny” Varela Fernández, which amends domestic violence and stalking laws to add protections for victims of those crimes.
The new legislation requires that a party subject to a protection order who does not reside in Puerto Rico notify local authorities of his or her arrival each time he or she comes to visit the island while the order remains in effect. Notification must occur no later than two hours after arrival, and failure to notify will constitute a misdemeanor.
HB 1779 was a direct response to a tragic incident in the municipality of Cataño, where Jesmarie Rivera Santiago, a 28-year-old mother, was murdered by her ex-partner, who had traveled from Oklahoma to Puerto Rico to commit the crime. The case shocked the island and highlighted the need to strengthen laws to protect victims of gender violence, regardless of the geographical location of the aggressor.
“This is a necessary step in the fight against gender violence in Puerto Rico,” Varela said. “This young mother’s story cannot be repeated. This law seeks to close legal loopholes and ensure that protection orders are effective, regardless of where the abuser is located.”
The law also responds to growing concern about the high incidence of domestic violence cases in Puerto Rico, which at the time of the filing of HB 1779, had recorded a total of 1,453 incidents. The situation has prompted a call to take urgent measures to protect victims and prevent future acts of violence.
“It is important to continue strengthening protections for women and other victims of violence in Puerto Rico; we must not allow people who threaten the lives of our citizens, on or off the island, to operate without restrictions,” Varela said.
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