The Electoral Comptroller’s Office revealed on Thursday that the Ponce Municipal Committee of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) and the Luis Irizarry Pabón Friends Committee face fines of $159,944.24 for violations of the Campaign Financing Law.
The violations detected include: not identifying donors, not reporting or depositing $30,000 in official accounts, cash disbursements contrary to the Law and receiving excessive donations, among others.
Of the violations, it stands out that Oscar Santamaría Torres made excessive donations and that the mayor of Ponce, Luis Irizarry Pabón, requested repayment of a $50,000 personal loan for his campaign.
It was also found that the committees did not keep adequate records, in violation of the provisions of Law 222.
As stated in a written communication by the Electoral Comptroller, Walter Vélez Martínez, in the investigation they evaluated testimonies, confidential information and transactions of both committees.
