One of the top figures ensnared in the Plan Renove debacle, Pedro Franco Badia, agreed to an interview with El Caribe that is published today, in which he says he was “only following orders.”
A lawyer by profession and a 48-year veteran on the political scene, Badia says he never wanted to be part of the transport program that was meant to enhance the DR’s fleet of public vehicles. In a scandal that has made headlines all week, it has been uncovered that many of the officials connected to the program, as well as their colleagues and family members, received such vehicles for their own use. When asked what he encountered upon assuming his post at Plan Renove, Badia says that all the vehicles had already been purchased. He denied ever taking possession of any Renove vehicle and says his family did not benefit from Renove either. He claimed that of the 310 units he assigned to various entities, all had the authorization of former President Hipolito Mejia and, according to the interview, he had the documentation to attest to that. He revealed that the 50 buses that were distributed irregularly by Milciades Amaro also had the approval of Mejia. In maintaining that he took no personal gain from Plan Renove (not even a salary), Badia furthermore claims that, while he was offered seven vehicles for his own use, he declined to accept them, viewing such activity as “improper.”
Badia deflects the charges levied against him and says it was he who requested the investigation that was conducted last February, in order to silence the accusations of Juan Hubieres (CONATRA) and “the other charlatanes.” He claims to have left the Plan Renove committee in order to pursue a Presidential candidacy, which he did not win.
For the full interview, please see: http://www.elcaribe.com.do/…