Justice clears DNER secretary of wrongdoing
- The San Juan Daily Star
- Aug 5
- 2 min read
By The Star Staff
The Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, Hon. Lourdes L. Gómez Torres, announced that the agency has sent an official communication to the Office of the Special Independent Prosecutor Panel (OPFEI), recommending not to appoint a Special Independent Prosecutor (SIP) to investigate the Secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), Waldemar Quiles Pérez.
The recommendation follows the completion of a preliminary investigation conducted by the Division of Public Integrity and Comptroller Affairs (DIPAC).
“After a thorough analysis of the evidence gathered and applicable legal standards, we concluded that there is no sufficient cause to believe that Secretary Quiles Pérez engaged in criminal conduct in the matters reviewed. Therefore, it was recommended not to proceed with the appointment of a Special Independent Prosecutor,” said acting DIPAC director, prosecutor Sonia Martínez Ortiz.
The investigation stemmed from a referral submitted on January 14, 2025, by at-large Senator Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, who alleged possible irregularities related to Administrative Order 2025-01, signed by the DNER Secretary on January 9, 2025.
The order was reviewed under the provisions of the Puerto Rico Penal Code (Law 146-2012), Law No. 1-2012 (Organic Law of the Office of Government Ethics of Puerto Rico), and Law No. 2-1988, which governs the OPFEI.
“We carefully assessed the allegations in light of Articles 254, 262, 263, and 269 of the Penal Code, related to undue influence, dereliction of duty, negligence, and perjury, respectively. We also considered Article 4.2(b) of the Ethics Law. No evidence was found to support any criminal violation,” Martínez Ortiz added.
In compliance with Law No. 2-1988, the notification was sent today to the members of the OPFEI Panel, as well as to the complainant and the respondent parties.
The Justice Secretary submitted her recommendation and the corresponding preliminary investigation report to the OPFEI.
It’s reassuring to see due process followed and transparency maintained in this case. The Justice Department’s Doodle Baseball thorough review helps uphold public trust in government institutions.