Lawyer warns Dominican officials could face legal action over pension rulings
Santo Domingo.- A lawyer representing four retired public servants has warned that the Minister of Finance and Economy, Magín Javier Díaz, and the director general of Pensions and Retirement Benefits under the State, Juan Rosa, could face legal action over the alleged failure to comply with court rulings ordering pension adjustments and payment of retroactive benefits.
Attorney Oliver Moisés Batía Burgos said his four clients are owed a combined RD$53.06 million in retroactive pension differences, calculated through September 30, 2026. He also said the amount continues to increase, with the state allegedly accumulating RD$743,136 per month in additional obligations, plus 1% monthly interest on the retroactive payments under the court rulings.
The lawyer said four formal orders for payment and notices of default were served on October 1, giving the authorities five business days to comply with the judgments.
The cases involve Manuel Emilio Pérez Suárez, Carlos Jeremías Santana Montás, Juan Bautista Moreno Castro, and Leocadio Valentín Lebrón Jiménez, who, according to their legal representative, each served more than three decades in public service.
The amounts claimed in the four cases are:
- Carlos Jeremías Santana Montás: RD$18,610,958.65
- Leocadio Valentín Lebrón Jiménez: RD$11,723,895.17
- Juan Bautista Moreno Castro: RD$7,519,357.75
- Manuel Emilio Pérez Suárez: RD$15,209,422.46
The judgments cited by the lawyer originated in the Superior Administrative Court, while subsequent Supreme Court proceedings involved cassation appeals. The cases include rulings issued between 2023 and 2026, with the most recent cited decision dated July 31, 2026.
Batía said the four notices represent the formal step preceding potential legal action if the judgments remain unfulfilled. He indicated that proceedings could take different judicial routes depending on the public official involved, including possible action before the Supreme Court of Justice in the case of the finance minister.
The attorney argued that the rulings have acquired the force of res judicata and that his clients are seeking enforcement of judicial decisions rather than an administrative concession. He said the pension differences date back to December 2020 and warned that the amount owed will continue to grow until the court-ordered adjustments and payments are carried out.
The allegations and potential liability of the officials remain subject to the applicable legal proceedings and determinations by the competent courts.
