Puerto Rico News Digest For Dec. 4, 2014.

SENATE APPROVES OIL TAX INCREASE

El Vocero is reporting that the Puerto Rico Senate last night 

approved the bill that would increase the island's tax on each 

barrel of oil to $15.50, after negotiations between Governor
Garcia Padilla and the Senate leadership. Most Popular
Democratic Party members voted in favor of the measure,
although a few PDP Senators voted against. The entire New
Progressive Party delegation voted against the bill, as did one
Independence Party member. If the tax increase is made into
law, gasoline prices on the island are expected to see a marked
increase in the coming year.

BOMB SCARE AT GOVERNOR'S MANSION

According to El Nuevo Dia, an anonymous invidual phoned
the Governor's mansion, La Fortaleza, and made a death threat

directed at Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla. The caller

also claimed that there was an explosive device inside the

mansion grounds. Security personnel activated emergency

protocols and the gubernatorial residence was immediately

evacuated. No explosives were found, and work at La Fortaleza

continues as normal today.

FBI RAIDS PR ROAD AUTHORITY, ARRESTS TREASURER

From Reuters:

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the offices of 

Puerto Rico's Highways and Transportation Authority (HTA) on 

Wednesday, taking documents and arresting the organization's 

treasurer for alleged bribery in programs using federal funds.

The treasurer, Silvino Cepeda Ortiz, was arrested at his place 

of work "without incident" in connection with a bribery-for-

payment scheme involving three unnamed HTA contractors, the 

U.S. Attorney's office said

The raid was the second against one of Puerto Rico's indebted 

public corporations in little over a week. On Nov. 25, the FBI 

seized documents and computer equipment at the offices of the 

Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (ASA). No arrests were made. The 

recent enforcement activity raises questions over governance at 

the corporations that have accumulated over $20 billion in debt. 

LAST GOODBYE FOR MUSIC EXEC TOPY MAMERY 

Various loved ones and celebrities paid their last respects to 

acclaimed Puerto Rican music and media executive Carlos "Topy"

Mamery yesterday morning at Ehret Funeral Home in Rio Piedras,

as reported by El Nuevo Dia. Mamery unexpectedly died of a heart 

attack on December 2nd at age 54. He is survived by his wife, 

singer Yolandita Monge and daughters Tania and Roxana. 

FIRST PUERTO RICAN CONGRESSMAN DEAD AT 85

From NBC News:

Herman Badillo, a trailblazer who went on to serve four terms as 

the first member of Congress born in Puerto Rico, died Wednesday 

in New York City. Badillo, who was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico 

in 1929 became an orphan by the age of 5 and was eventually sent 

to  live with family in East Harlem. 

Badillo served as a Democratic congressman representing the South 

Bronx from 1971 to 1977 and championed antipoverty programs, 

bilingual education, voting rights, as well as expanded rights and 

benefits for Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens. But Badillo's 

political ideology did not stay unchanged - he went from liberal 

Democrat to a Republican conservative who served as education 

adviser to Republican mayor Rudolph Giuliani.