P.R. Laws tit. 1, § 601
The Legislature declares that ethical responsibility and moral integrity are guiding principles that govern public officials and the institutions, agencies, branches, and instrumentalities of the Government of Puerto Rico. Likewise, it is imperative to guarantee that government management at all levels incorporates and consecrates the highest standards of sound public administration, as an effective means to counteract and eradicate government corruption.
The purpose of this chapter is to adopt measures for the protection of the rights of public employees and officials who disclose information or testify on alleged improper or illegal acts regarding the use of public property or funds that due to their nature constitute acts of government corruption, or that fall within the ethical conduct regulated by our legal system. Said public official or employee shall enjoy the guarantee and protection of his/her anonymity during the investigative process. Although the need to offer protection of the rights of the public employees and officials who report, accuse, or are witnesses in investigations and procedures before administrative, judicial and legislative forums is evident the establishing of sanctions for those cases in which such claims or statements are defamatory, unfounded or frivolous in nature, is also necessary in the enforcement of this chapter.
The scope of this chapter has the effect of preventing that any public official or employee from being dismissed, threatened, discriminated, or otherwise retaliated against, with respect to the terms, conditions, compensation, location, benefits, or privileges of the employment or public service, when he/she gives information, or testifies on alleged illegal or improper acts in the use and management of public property or funds.
History —Nov. 7, 2000, No. 426, § 2.