Spanish
Santo Domingo. — The former rector of the Instituto Tecnológico de Las Américas (ITLA), Rafael Jesús Félix García, stated this Monday that during his tenure at that institution, economic contributions were neither demanded nor conditioned from collaborators, and reiterated his willingness for the competent bodies to investigate both his performance and his financial situation, following the revocation of his appointment through Decree no. 39-26.
In a letter addressed to the citizenry, Félix García indicated that he formally requested the General Directorate of Ethics and Governmental Integrity (DIGEIG) and the State Anti-Fraud Unit to conduct a thorough technical review of the institutional procedures of ITLA, with full access to information, personnel, and internal processes, a process that, as he pointed out, has already begun.
The former official assured that during his time as rector, the appointment, permanence, promotions or benefits of employees were not demanded, conditioned or linked to economic contributions of any kind, nor in favor of movements or political structures.
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Regarding the statements about his financial situation, he explained that since his birth he has resided in the Gazcue sector, in the same building where his family has been the owner since 2007. He detailed that in 2023 he acquired in that property a two-bedroom apartment, adjacent to his parents' home, for an approximate value of RD$10.7 million, through an ordinary credit operation financed 80% with a mortgage loan and 20% with a personal loan. According to what was specified, the property has a habitable surface area of 105.43 square meters, access to the roof and maintains a debt balance exceeding 95% of the financed capital, with a remaining term of 18 years, information that he affirmed can be verified through bank certifications. Féliz García also clarified that a vehicle acquired in previous years was financed through a bank loan, later sold in 2025, with the proceeds from the sale being used to fully pay off the corresponding obligation, and that a commercial company established in the province of Pedernales did not develop real operations or effective commercial activity. The former rector pointed out that during more than five years of public service he was responsible for the administration of State resources under control, compliance, and transparency schemes, both at the Instituto Técnico Superior Comunitario (ITSC) and at the Ministry of Youth and ITLA, where he indicated that the Integrated Institutional Management System with ISO international standards in quality, compliance, and anti-bribery was implemented. Finally, he reiterated his respect for the right to freedom of expression and expressed his confidence that time and investigations will clarify the facts and normalize the situation.
