Attorney General Virgilio Bello Rosa protested what he called a reverse to the recent government struggle against corruption. He protested the release of former Minister of Public Works and former Administrative Secretary of the Presidency Diandino Peña, former Administrative Secretary of the Presidency Simon Lizardo and former Controller of the Nation Haivanjoe Ng Cortiñas from the provisional jail at the Palacio de Justicia of Ciudad Nueva. Fiscal Attorney Máximo Aristy Caraballo ordered their release on grounds that there was no evidence to sustain their arrest. The three had been retained for questioning regarding the Programa de Empleo Mínimo Eventual, a government program that channeled RD$1,250 million to unemployed persons regarded as potential trouble-makers to maintain social peace. Orlando Gil, a political commentator of El Siglo, explains in his column today that "the three may have sinned by omission but not by commission of the acts". He comments that it is true that they processed the transactions, disregarding what the law establishes on the matter. He comments that this is a serious fault, but excuses them, saying that "unfortunately it is normal procedure in the government". Gil comments that if the latter did not take personal advantage of the funds of the PEME they cannot be treated the same by the judiciary as those that handled the resources. In his opinion, separating these three from the case by District Attorney Aristy Caraballo takes political pressure off the case, and turns it into a penal case. The El Siglo news commentator, nevertheless, says that the PLD has fallen for the strategy of the PRD, putting them now on the defensive at a time when the PRD is interested in passing new tax bills.
