Former President Joaquín Balaguer sent a letter to District Attorney Francisco Domínguez Brito excusing his presence in the habeas corpus hearing that is being held as part of the Orlando Martínez trial (Martínez was a journalist who was assassinated more than 20 years ago during a Balaguer administration). He explained to the District Attorney that the doctor has ordered him to stay in bed to recover from a fall suffered shortly after the hurricane. Rumors about the death or serious illness of the 92 year old politician again surged after he did not visit the tomb of his mother on Sunday nor attend the mass that commemorated a new anniversary of the death of his sister, Ema Balaguer.
