Temístocles Montás, Technical Secretary of the Presidency, denied that the government has paid a RD$513 million advance towards the construction of the Northwest Aqueduct. He made the statement in response to an inquiry repeatedly made by president of the Senate, Ramón Alburquerque. Visibly mad, when asked about the matter of journalists, he said that Alburquerque is well aware of this as he was the head of a commission that suggested to the government the carrying out of the Northwest Aqueduct project, with financing included. He said that Alburqueque is "deliberately, and intentionally lying to the country, trying to manipulate public opinion, trying to hide now his responsibility with that contract." Montás said the Northwest Aqueduct project was presented to the government by Alburquerque (PRD-Monte Plata, José González Espinosa (PRD-Barahona) and Darío Gómez (PRD-Santiago Rodríguez).
