The short version
- NotiCel reported that Itza García faces an ethics complaint for promoting a $120,000 contract with Next Wave Solutions LLC run by her partner Luis Alberto Sánchez Andino at the DDEC
- Metro Puerto Rico reports the OEG says García sent a proposal and contact information to then-DDEC Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard in November 2025 and followed up in December before the contract was signed on Dec. 16 2025
- El Vocero reported García filed a recusal statement in March 2026 claiming she had remained fully recused but the OEG said it only had prospective effect and her prior actions violated Article 4.2(g) of the ethics law
- Metro Puerto Rico and El Vocero reported a separate complaint against Francisco Domenech for hiring Janet Parra as his lawyer shortly after he left office when he had authorized a $125,000 contract for her with the CFSE in August 2025
Ethics complaints filed Oct. 29
The Office of Government Ethics (OEG) filed separate administrative complaints dated Oct. 29 against former subsecretary of the governor's office Itza García Rodríguez and former secretary of the governor's office Francisco Domenech Fernández. NotiCel reported the complaints allege violations of the Government Ethics Act. Both former officials have 20 days to respond.
García is accused of intervening with the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) on behalf of Next Wave Solutions LLC, a company administered by her partner Luis Alberto Sánchez Andino, with whom she shared residence. According to the OEG the contract worth $120,000 was signed on Dec. 16 2025. Metro Puerto Rico reported the company also held contracts with the Office of Management and Budget.
Domenech faces accusations that he violated post-employment restrictions by hiring attorney Janet Parra as his private lawyer in an investigation by the Office of the Independent Special Prosecutor Panel (PFEI) days after resigning on Aug. 7 2026. El Vocero reported he had authorized a $125,000 contract for Parra with the State Insurance Fund Corporation (CFSE) in August 2025 while serving as secretary.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Esta servidora se ha matenido totalmente inhibida de cualquier proceso, discusión o autorización relacionada con la compañía Next Wave Solutions…
Our translation: This public servant has remained totally recused from any process, discussion or authorization related to the company Next Wave Solutions...
The source's own statement, as quoted by OEG complaint. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Details of the García case
The OEG states García sent a digital copy of a services proposal along with Sánchez Andino's phone number to then-DDEC Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard on Nov. 9 2025 and followed up with a text message on Dec. 5 2025 informing him that Sánchez Andino was at the agency to sign the contract. El Vocero reported the proposal involved administrative consulting coordination of projects and events. The contract was formalized with the DDEC and the Office of Permit Management.
García submitted a recusal statement on March 20 2026 in which she declared she had remained "totally inhibited" from any process discussion or authorization related to Next Wave Solutions or Sánchez Andino. The OEG accepted the statement but notified her in April 2026 that it had only prospective effect and did not cover prior actions. NotiCel reported the OEG alleges her earlier interventions violated the ethics law and is seeking a fine.
The complaint also alleges García made a false representation in the recusal statement. Metro Puerto Rico reported the OEG is seeking sanctions a civil fine up to three times any economic benefit restitution of public funds if applicable and possible withholding of retirement funds.
Details of the Domenech case
According to the OEG Domenech as secretary of the governor's office had authority over approval of professional services contracts under Executive Order 2025-008 signed by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón on Jan. 17 2025. Metro Puerto Rico reported he electronically signed the authorization for the CFSE to contract Parra for $125,000 on Aug. 18 2025 together with the director of the Office of Management and Budget. The contract ran until June 30 2026.
Three days after Domenech's resignation press reports indicated he had retained Parra to represent him before the PFEI. The PFEI notified the OEG of a resolution in the case on Aug. 28. El Vocero reported the complaint alleges this violated Article 4.6(c) of the ethics law which bars former public servants from contracting directly or indirectly with an agency or private party on which they exercised official action in the prior year. The OEG is seeking sanctions a civil fine up to three times any benefit and possible restitution and retirement-fund withholding.
Where the sources differ
All three sources agree on the filing of separate Oct. 29 complaints by the OEG against Itza García and Francisco Domenech the $120,000 Next Wave Solutions contract the $125,000 Parra contract with CFSE the dates of García's communications in November and December 2025 the March 2026 recusal statement and its prospective-only effect and the alleged violations of the Government Ethics Act. NotiCel focuses exclusively on the García case and the $120,000 figure while Metro Puerto Rico and El Vocero cover both cases. Metro Puerto Rico states García's partner is Luis Alberto Sánchez Andino and mentions a follow-up message that he was at the agency to sign; El Vocero gives the exact Dec. 5 text date and adds that the company obtained two more contracts with OGP and one with the municipality of Utuado. El Vocero and Metro Puerto Rico differ slightly on the end date of García's service (Aug. 15 vs Aug. 15 this year) but align on core facts. The sources do not conflict on any major number or date.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state whether García or Domenech have responded to the complaints what their defenses are or whether any administrative hearing has been scheduled. They do not disclose the current status of the Next Wave Solutions or Parra contracts whether any funds have been repaid or the outcome of any related PFEI investigation involving Domenech. The articles also omit any comment from the named former officials or from the governor's office on the complaints.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Itza García es blanco de querella por intervenir en el DDEC a favor de su pareja
- Reporting Itza García es blanco de querella por intervenir en el DDEC a favor de su pareja
- Reporting Ética radica querella contra Francisco Domenech por contratar a Janet Parra
- Reporting ¿Por qué Ética Gubernamental presentó querellas contra Francisco Domenech e Itza García?
How we checked this
NotiCel Metro Puerto Rico and El Vocero all reported on the OEG complaints against Itza García and Francisco Domenech on Nov. 3. The details of the recusal statement the specific alleged communications and the exact articles of the ethics law cited rest primarily on the OEG complaints as described by Metro Puerto Rico and El Vocero while NotiCel provided an independent account focused on García.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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