The sworn declarations by Sobeida Feliz Morel to the District Attorney, in which she accused the president of the PRD, Miguel Vargas Maldonado, of receiving huge sums of money from her former lover, Puerto Rican capo Jose David Figueroa Agosto, adds another log to the fire that is consuming the deeply divided opposition party. Although her statements were given in 2011, they are only being released now, just as several leading party members are being summoned to a Disciplinary Commission hearing.
Yesterday, Vargas Maldonado denied all links with Figueroa Agosto and said that he acted with transparency and responsibility in his public and private activities. He said that during the 2008 electoral campaign, when he was the PRD presidential candidate, he took part in many fundraising activities, but that no-one related to illegal activities appear on the guest lists or lists of participants.
“I never had dealings or links with Mr. Figueroa Agosto, a name that the authorities had not linked to any illicit activity at that time.”
On the other hand, Hector Guzman, spokesman for former President Hipolito Mejia’s faction within the party, said that they would wait until after the party leadership, which includes Andres Bautista, Geanilda Vasquez and Orlando Jorge Mera meets today, Monday 7 January, before issuing an opinion on this issue. However, leading PRD member Ivelisse Prats de Perez called on Vargas Maldonado to provide a swift and conclusive answer, since the implications involve the PRD. “I think it is time for him to answer this quickly, as Miguel Vargas Maldonado occupies the presidency of the PRD and any charges leveled at him also harm the very body of the PRD.”