Housing secretary’s departure does not end New Progressive Party division.

Then-Housing Secretary Ciary Pérez Peña, left, and Gov. Jenniffer González Colón

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico Housing Secretary Ciary Pérez Peña submitted her resignation on Saturday, marking the end of a month‑long controversy surrounding alleged irregularities at an auto inspection center owned by her family in Yabucoa but doing little to end divisions in the governing New Progressive Party.

Her resignation will take effect today, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said.

The governor confirmed receiving Pérez Peña’s four‑page resignation letter around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, describing the decision as an attempt by the outgoing official to prevent further distractions to the Housing Department.

“The gossip is over, the back‑and‑forth ends today,” said González Colón, noting that Pérez Peña expressed concern that personal accusations unrelated to her duties were overshadowing the agency’s work.

After the announcement, Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, who is vying to run for governor, publicly criticized La Fortaleza’s handling of the controversy. In a sharply worded social‑media post, he questioned why the administration had defended Pérez Peña for weeks only to accept her resignation now.

Rivera Schatz accused the governor’s advisers of inconsistency and mocked the administration for what he described as contradictory reasoning.

“They removed her over problems, but might use her later as a spokesperson. Illuminati logic,” he wrote, adding that there was “a select and exclusive group of ‘geniuses’” guiding decisions at La Fortaleza.

The comments come as tensions between the governor and the Senate president have escalated, fueled by disagreements over the investigations into Pérez Peña and the administration’s responses.

In her resignation letter, Pérez Peña wrote that she was stepping down “with mixed feelings,” emphasizing her accomplishments during her tenure. She maintained that the allegations targeting her and her family were “false and malicious,” but acknowledged that they had become a distraction.

“I cannot allow these accusations to minimize the work, progress, and achievements of your administration,” she wrote.

González Colón praised Pérez Peña’s performance, calling her “one of the best Housing Secretaries Puerto Rico has had,” and wished her success in the future. She added that she would remain available to assist Pérez Peña if needed.

The governor also revealed that Deputy Housing Secretary Omar Figueroa Vázquez resigned on Friday. He has been replaced by attorney Luis Augusto Martínez, who will also serve as interim Housing secretary until a permanent appointment is made.

González Colón dismissed speculation that she would nominate Itza García, the current La Fortaleza deputy chief of staff, to lead the Housing Department.

“Even with all the preparation in the world, I need her for the work she is doing now,” the governor said.

The Housing secretary had spent the past month under scrutiny following reports of the alleged irregularities at the family‑owned auto inspection center. Although the events predated her government appointment, they triggered multiple investigations and political clashes, culminating in Saturday’s resignation.