Santo Domingo.- The government agency that manages cafeterias to provide low-cost meals to some of the poorest Dominicans spends millions of pesos to rent luxury SUVs for its senior officials, headed by Ramón Rodríguez (Monchy).
A joint investigation by journalist Nuria Piera and outlet acento.com.do found the malfeasance despite president Danilo Medina’s instruction for government austerity, to deal with deficit left by of Leonel Fernández administration, of more than RD$200.0 billion.
In just 6 months the agency paid 1.2 million to rent a Ford Explorer.
On March 1, 2013, Rodríguez leased from the company Roma SRL, owned by José Soriano Gonzalez, a Ford Explorer, not considered the type vehicle needed to run such an agency.
As usual, Dominican taxpayers will have to pay the RD$1.2 million out of their pockets, so the "sacrificed public servants" can ride in posh and cool comfort.