Jorge Mera died in his own office at the hands of a childhood friend
According to the Dominican government, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, Orlando Jorge Mera, was shot dead in his office at the ministry on Monday morning. The alleged author of the recordings is Miguel Cruz, a personal friend of the minister. “The person responsible is in custody of the National Police and the Public Prosecution Service,” the government said. “The reasons for the incident are being investigated,” he added.
Ministry sources quoted by “Acento” newspaper reported that a total of six shots were heard in the office and that the attacker, who entered the room alone, escaped after firing the shots.
“From the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, we are baffled by the situation presented this Monday morning. So far we have no details on the situation that has occurred in the Ministry’s facilities,” the ministry posted on its Twitter account.
Dominican President Luis Abinader mourned the death of his “good friend” Orlando Jorge Mera. «My sincere condolences to his wife Patricia and his children Orlando and Patricia Victoria. Rest in peace dear friend,” Abinader wrote on Twitter.
A note was issued from the ministry headed by Jorge Mera expressing the pain of the staff. “We have lost a sensitive citizen and dedicated official; as well as an exemplary father, son and brother,” he said. Goodbye, Don Orlando! Rest in peace,” he added.
The Dominican press speculates that Fausto Miguel de Jesús Cruz de la Mota shot the minister after a heated argument, possibly over a debt. Cruz owns a gun shop and is the son of an Air Force general during the tenure of Salvador Jorge Blanco, Orlando’s father.
After the arrest, the minister’s family confirmed that Jorge and Cruz were childhood friends and assured that they would forgive the killer. “Our family forgives the perpetrator. One of our Orlando’s greatest legacies was to hold no grudges,” he said, expressing his wish “that the facts be cleared up and justice be done.”
Orlando Jorge Mera was appointed Environment Minister in August 2020 by President Luis Abinader. After his appointment, he said his mission was to work for good environmental stewardship and constitutional and legal compliance, coupled with transparency and public ethics.
Source: La Verdad
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