Top watchdog group slams the Government’s Ethics chief

Santo Domingo.- The head of Dominican Republic’s most active watchdog group on Friday slammed Government Ethics Commission director Marino Vinicio Castillo (Vincho), accusing him of violating the law on Financial Statement, by omitting information on his public document.

Dominican Anti-Corruption Alliance (ADOCCO) Coordinator Julio Cesar de la Rosa also criticized the Justice Ministry’s Administrative Corruption Dept. (DPCA) for allegedly failing to follow up on the government official’s financial statement. "This sends a totally mistaken signal because it’s undoubtedly an affidavit of assets that doesn’t correspond with reality, because of the evidence that has been presented."

The organization’s coordinator called Castillo the worst person to file an incomplete statement because as head of Ethics commissioner he has to set the example. "Our demand has been that a declaration of assets has to be verified by both the Real Estate Jurisdiction as Internal Taxes Agency, so that there isn’t under-valuing or omitted information in their financial statement."