Suzanne Roig rules out resigning as family secretary
The head of the Department of the Family said Thursday she has committed no irregularities in contested contracts at Adsef and will appear before any investigative body that summons her.
The short version
- El Nuevo Día reported that Suzanne Roig rejected calls for her resignation and said she will collaborate if summoned by the Department of Justice, the Inspector General or the FBI
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that Roig told a radio interviewer she remains calm and confident, has documentation to support her statements and has not acted outside the law
- Both outlets reported that Roig appeared before a Senate committee on Wednesday where she denied accusations made by former Adsef head Blanca Medina Díaz
- El Nuevo Día reported that senators Juan Oscar Morales and Manuel Calderón Cerame separately called for Roig's resignation after her Senate testimony
No intention to step down
Secretary of the Family Suzanne Roig stated on Thursday, Oct. 8 that she will not resign her post amid controversy over alleged irregularities at the Administración de Desarrollo Socioeconómico de la Familia (Adsef). El Nuevo Día reported she told reporters she answers to Gov. Jenniffer González, occupies a position of trust and remains at the governor's disposal. She added that she has spoken with the governor about the matter but would not disclose the content of those private conversations.
In a separate radio interview, Roig told WKAQ 580 AM she has no reason to resign, remains "tranquila" and "confiada," and denied having acted outside the law or pressured anyone to award contracts. Metro Puerto Rico reported she said the questioned contracting processes were never completed and that all actions followed applicable laws and regulations.
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Yo respondo a la señora gobernadora (Jenniffer González). Mi puesto es un puesto de confianza y sabemos que los puestos de confianza siempre están a disposición de la entidad nominadora, que es la señora gobernadora
Our translation: I answer to the governor (Jenniffer González). My position is one of trust and we know that positions of trust are always at the disposal of the nominating entity, which is the governor.
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Nuevo Día. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Senate testimony and accusations
The statements came one day after Roig testified before the Senate Committee on Family, Women, Elderly Persons and People with Functional Diversity and Disabilities. El Nuevo Día reported that during the Wednesday, Oct. 7 hearing she rejected accusations leveled by former Adsef director Blanca Medina Díaz. Medina Díaz has alleged that Roig pressured her to evaluate a proposal and award a contract to NOLA Education for the Star Academy program and to Strategic Technology Advisors for a training platform. Medina Díaz also accused the director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, Gabriella Boffelli, of applying similar pressure in the second case.
Roig told the committee that none of the contracts were executed. She had awarded a competitive process by invitation to NOLA Education but later canceled it. She also defended the selection of LAP Consulting to evaluate proposals that included NOLA Education, Coccoloba AgroEnvironmental and Litoral Vivo. Roig said the three firms came from a list provided by the Department of Education and that the evaluation committee was independent.
Where the sources differ
Both El Nuevo Día and Metro Puerto Rico agree that Suzanne Roig rejected calls to resign on Thursday, Oct. 8, stated she has done nothing illegal, and appeared before the Senate the previous day. El Nuevo Día provides more detail on the specific accusations by Blanca Medina Díaz, the involvement of Gabriella Boffelli, the status of the NOLA Education award and cancellation, the composition of the LAP Consulting evaluation committee, and interactions with owners of Coccoloba and Litoral Vivo. Metro Puerto Rico focuses on Roig's radio interview emphasizing her calm demeanor, supporting documentation and commitment to submit additional evidence. The sources do not conflict on any reported facts.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state whether Gov. Jenniffer González has asked for or accepted Roig's resignation. They also do not indicate if any investigative body has scheduled further appearances by Roig or when she will submit additional evidence. The articles do not disclose the outcome of any review by the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General or FBI, nor do they detail the exact reasons the contracts did not proceed beyond the described pressures and cancellation.
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.
- Reporting Suzanne Roig descarta renunciar a Familia y asegura que colaborará si la citan a declarar
- Reporting Luego de la vista del miércoles Suzanne Roig descarta renunciar
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día and Metro Puerto Rico both covered Roig's refusal to resign and her defense of the contracting process. Most details about the accusations, the evaluation committee and exchanges with company owners rest on the longer El Nuevo Día account. Metro Puerto Rico added Roig's direct radio statements about having committed no irregularities.
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.