House committee hears nominee Luisa Colón García on strengthening independent prosecutor panel

The House Commission on Government held a public hearing Friday, June 20, 2025, to consider the nomination of Luisa Colón García as an alternate member of the Panel del Fiscal Especial Independiente (PEI).

Luisa Colón García, an attorney and retired judge, told the commission she has “dedicated more than 30 years” to public service in judicial and administrative roles and described her experience across municipal, superior and appellate courts. She said she currently serves as a special commissioner for the Supreme Court in matters of attorney discipline and offered the panel her oath to act with independence and thoroughness.

Colón emphasized swift, evidence-driven investigations as a central fix for the PEI’s public credibility problems. “La agilización de las investigaciones es medular,” she said, adding that when evidence is not preserved quickly, investigations lose the factual basis needed for sustainable decisions. She told members she would instruct that incomplete files be completed before making recommendations: “estaré instruyendo para que se complete ese expediente y pueda tomar una decisión completamente informada.”

Multiple representatives questioned Colón on the PEI’s recent criticism and public perception. Lawmakers who spoke described a widespread loss of confidence in the office and pressed for concrete measures to rebuild trust. Colón repeatedly said the office should preserve evidence promptly and that many procedural improvements could be implemented administratively within the PEI’s existing authority rather than by immediate legislative change.

She also recounted her role in municipal government during a corruption crisis in Guaynabo, saying she used her legal and administrative authority to preserve documents and stabilize municipal operations after arrests of municipal officials. Colón said she has no disciplinary complaints pending and that an administrative check of court records returned no open complaints against her.

The committee did not vote on the nomination at the hearing. Members told Colón the commission will draft a report over the weekend and hold an executive session on Monday to vote on the committee’s recommendation to the full House.

The hearing record shows most discussion focused on two themes: (1) Colón’s qualifications and prior judicial and administrative work, and (2) procedural reforms the PEI could adopt to speed evidence collection and narrow windows in which material is lost. Lawmakers repeatedly framed the reforms as necessary to restore public confidence and to produce decisions that are more likely to be sustained in court.

No formal action on confirmation occurred at the public hearing; the committee scheduled an executive session to consider and vote on its report. The commission proceedings were recorded and will form the basis for the committee’s recommendation to the House.