The Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI) filed a mandamus lawsuit against the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Hacienda) and its Secretary, Angel Pantoja Rodríguez, seeking information on donors to the Fundación del Palacio de Santa Catalina, a government-created organization responsible for maintaining and restoring La Fortaleza. It is currently unknown how much money has been donated, how much in tax credits donors have received, or how the funds have been used.
CPI journalist Tatiana Díaz Ramos requested this data on July 14, covering both the Fundación del Palacio de Santa Catalina and the Fundación para el Patronato de Santa Catalina, both of which have overseen conservation of the Executive Mansion. Hacienda grants tax credits for donations to these foundations: under the Fundación para el Patronato de Santa Catalina, created during Governor Sila María Calderón’s administration, donors could claim 50% of donations as a tax credit; under the newer Fundación del Palacio de Santa Catalina, created by Governor Jenniffer González Colón, donors can now claim 100%.
CPI Executive Director Carla Minet said two months is excessive for such a simple public-information request, and criticized recent amendments to the Transparency Law that gave agencies more time to respond. Díaz Ramos said CPI had to go to court despite the information being confirmed as compiled and available.