Bicameral Commission concluded study of proposals for Penal Code modification; will submit report this Saturday

SANTO DOMINGO.– The Bicameral Commission, appointed to study dozens of proposals for the amendment of Law 74-25, which establishes the Penal Code, concluded on Friday night with the approval of a report that will be submitted in the coming hours to the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies.

The work of said commission, which included the contributions of the presidents of the Senate, Ricardo de los Santos, and of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, was carried out with broad participation from legislators of both chambers.

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Deputy Wandy Batista, president of the Bicameral Commission, expressed satisfaction that they have completed the study so that the timely entry into force of the Penal Code is not hindered, just as the nation desires.

During a press conference in the Hugo Tolentino Dipp Hall, he explained that they endorsed the report with at least 12 merged initiatives, which will be included in the legislative piece.

He clarified that, of at least 93 reform initiatives that were submitted, about 37 dealt with the same article, which led to faster work, since only 24 corrections were made in total.

“We are deeply grateful, because it served as a great source of nourishment, understanding, and improvements for the initiatives of the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate to open the National Congress to the country, to interest groups, and to associations, because this number of recommendations helped the work of this commission a great deal,” stated Batista.

He acknowledged that Ricardo de los Santos and Alfredo Pacheco were helpful with all the logistical support they provided, when it was necessary.

He also praised the sub-committee, chaired by Senator Pedro Catrain and composed of deputies Rosendy Polanco and Mayobanex Martínez, who worked with the avalanche of proposals.

“These people did not rest; they went to bed late at night compiling, analyzing, and reflecting on a large number of recommendations and correspondence,” highlighted Batista.

For his part, Pacheco also praised the designated sub-committee and the bicameral commission, as well as those who were not part of them, because they addressed dozens of reform proposals, in addition to the bill that the Senate submitted with 18 others.

He reiterated the call for the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies for this Saturday at 10 in the morning and announced that in that meeting the Penal Code will only be approved in the first discussion and then a second call will be made, possibly for Monday, to consider it in the second reading, after which it will pass to the Senate.

Meanwhile, De los Santos, president of the Senate, concluded by noting that the National Congress aspires for this modified Penal Code to enter into force on August 3rd as planned, although Congress will remain open to any type of objection.