Documents obtained by NotiUno 630 and submitted to the Senate show that Puerto Rico Family Department Secretary Suzanne Roig Fuertes and the agency’s Press and Communications Director, Rossy Santiago Velázquez, refunded funds after each claimed $225 in per diems during an official trip to New Orleans from December 7 to 10, 2025. Each official was disbursed $1,902.70 to cover the trip, including the $225 per diems, hotel, airfare, baggage, maid and porter expenses.
A table labeled 'Per Diem Breakdown: New Orleans’ divided the amount across breakfast, lunch and dinner for the four days: $70.00 the first day, $35.00 the second, $50.00 the third and $70.00 the fourth, totaling $225.00 per person. Lodging was billed separately: $524.67 for Roig Fuertes and $524.57 for Santiago Velázquez. After subtracting actual spending, the Department determined amounts owed to the Treasury Department of $501.03 for the secretary and $581.13 for the press director, plus a $4.00 fee for each money order.
Roig Fuertes repaid $497.03 and Santiago Velázquez $577.13 through postal money orders dated December 16, 2025. The expense evidence was delivered to Treasury by Linnette Martínez Ruiz, and Banco Popular receipts show that same day two withdrawals were made and the money orders purchased in the name of the Treasury Secretary.