Alicante City Council Technicians Boycott VPO Commission

Five of the six technicians summoned to the investigation commission on VPO housing in Playa de San Juan did not attend, drawing criticism from opposition groups.

Generic image of a judge's gavel on legal documents, symbolizing an investigation.
IA

Generic image of a judge's gavel on legal documents, symbolizing an investigation.

Five of the six Alicante City Council technicians summoned to the municipal commission investigating possible irregularities in the allocation of public protection housing in Playa de San Juan have chosen not to attend.

The commission's secretariat announced the situation to political groups this Tuesday, when the head of the Heritage department and several active technicians from the area, including the municipal architect who was awarded one of the flats, as well as retired personnel, were scheduled to appear.
The municipal groups of PSPV-PSOE, Compromís, and Vox have criticized the situation, as they were not previously aware of these absences. Furthermore, they have demanded part of the documentation requested for the study of the appearances, which, they claim, the government team has not provided.

"The Popular Party has repeatedly insisted during this time that appearing could entail judicial responsibilities, and I believe this has been persuasive."

Ana Barceló · PSPV-PSOE Spokesperson
The socialist spokesperson, Ana Barceló, noted that, in the documentation consulted, there are “differences” between the initial note, which was “very belligerent” and revealed the alleged irregularities, and the definitive report used in the city council's complaint to the prosecutor's office, as, in her opinion, it “gives it a facelift” and “ends up being much more amiable.”
From Compromís, their municipal spokesperson, Rafa Mas, reiterated the request for documentation made three months ago and asked the PP to remove Deputy Mayor Manuel Villar from the commission's presidency, alleging that he has “privileged information” and was previously aware of the officials' refusal to attend.
The Vox councilor, Carmen Robledillo, also emphasized the lack of files and stated that her group already had “suspicions” that these absences would occur “as soon as the procedure was judicialized.”
In response, Manuel Villar stated that he would not comment on the day-to-day operations of the commission and explained that the documentation “had been sent but not uploaded,” and that “upon verifying it this morning,” they have posted it on the portal they are using for the commission. The only person who did attend the Alicante City Council at noon was a retired legal technician from the Heritage department.