The PFEI takes up investigative reports on former municipal officials

The Independent Special Prosecutor Panel (PFEI), chaired by Judge Nydia Cotto Vives, issued formal resolutions taking up the preliminary investigative reports referred by the Puerto Rico Department of Justice. The panel designated independent special prosecutors and delegated prosecutors to deepen inquiries into possible government-corruption crimes and ethical infractions attributed to former mayors and former officials of several municipalities.

The investigations derive from forensic audits carried out by the Puerto Rico Office of the Comptroller, under Comptroller Yesmín Valdivieso, in which schemes of favoritism in the award of resurfacing and asphalt bids, improper payments on solid-waste collection contracts, and alteration of attendance and municipal-payroll records with public funds were detected.

Judge Nydia Cotto Vives specified that the assigned prosecutors have a regulatory term of 90 days, extendable for justified cause, to gather documentary and testimonial evidence before determining whether criminal charges should be filed in the Court of First Instance. Various public-transparency organizations have demanded greater speed in the judicial processing of schemes to divert funds in local administrations.

Source: Metro. https://www.metro.pr/noticias/2026/03/15/pfei-designa-fiscales-especiales-para-investigar-exalcaldes/