PDP president calls on governor, resident commissioner to concentrate on fighting crime
By The Star Staff
Popular Democratic Party (PDP) President Jesús Manuel Ortiz González on Tuesday denounced what he said are the New Progressive Party’s (NPP) lack of priorities in the face of the most urgent security challenges facing the island.
The statements came after several homicides were reported over the past week, including the killing of an off-duty Trujillo Alto Municipal Police sergeant.
“It is painful and unacceptable that while the NPP of Pedro Pierluisi and Jenniffer González deals with partisan issues and its primary for the governorship, our island is plunged into a worrying crime wave that must be addressed urgently,” the PDP leader said. “It is painful to see how young people, women and even police are murdered in our streets. The governor and the resident commissioner have to focus their efforts on doing their job, not on keeping the country at the mercy of their political fight.”
Ortiz González went on to say that “it is unacceptable to see how the governor and the [resident] commissioner concentrate their efforts on seeking votes, while the security of the country is deteriorating.”
He also asked them to put aside their political differences and work as a team so that adequate resources are allocated to strengthen law enforcement and ensure that they are properly equipped and trained to face current challenges.
“Today we woke up to the sad news that a sergeant of the Municipal Police of Trujillo Alto was shot dead while he was at a second job in a bakery,” Ortiz González said. “It is unfortunate that while this is happening, and while our police officers have to have a second job in order to have a good quality of life, the governor and the [resident] commissioner are on a political campaign. This should not be the priority at this time. The priority of this government should be focused on the reduction of violence and lack of security, and so many other problems that Puerto Rico is experiencing.”