The Minister of the Environment of the Dominican Republic, OrlandoJorge Mera, died this Monday when he was shot in his office, according to political sources.
Environment sources said that several shots were heard at the Ministry headquarters, after which the Police went to the scene.
Arriving at the headquarters of the Ministry, Senator Ricardo de los Santos said that “it seems” Jorge Mera was “killed”, although he said he had no official information.
The Ministry of the Environment has not offered official information about what happened and, in an official note, expressed the “consternation” of the institution at the events that occurred.
Jorge Mera, 55, was the son of former President Salvador Jorge Blanco, and had been in office since the beginning of the Government of President Luis Abinader, in August 2020.
The Dominican Police have arrested Miguel Cruz, alleged murderer of Jorge Mera.
Cruz was a personal friend of the minister, according to the Dominican Presidency in a statement, in which President Luis Abinader expressed his “deepest condolences” to Jorge Mera’s family.
“The government and the president remain at the family’s disposal for whatever they may need,” the statement said.
The attacker entered the minister’s office and shot him with a firearm, according to official information.
Cruz is in the custody of the National Police and the Public Ministry, which have opened an investigation into the case.
A law graduate and leader of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), Jorge Mera was married to the Dominican ambassador to Brazil, Patricia Villegas, and leaves behind two children, including deputy Orlando Jorge.
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