Friday to Sunday May 5-7, 2023

The San Juan Star

Proposed Ammo Purchase Limits Draw Fire

Bassist Covers

All the Latin & Jazz Bases

Gun Owners Group Objects to Measure That Would Cut the Number of Rounds That Can Be Bought Legally in a Year

NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL

Fiscal Board Steps Up Fast-Tracking of Permits for Solar Projects Deemed Critical Infrastructure

Russia Fires Drones and Missiles at Kyiv After Kremlin Explosion

GOOD MORNING

The San Juan Daily Star, the only paper with News Service in English in Puerto Rico, publishes 7 days a week, with a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday edition, along with a Weekend Edition to cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

San Juan mayor: University College is available for students impacted by American University closures

By THE STAR STAFF

Following the announcement of the closure of the American University campuses, San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo announced that he is available to help students affected by the situation through the San Juan University College.

The institution, which for over 50 years has offered bachelor’s and associate degrees in accounting, criminal justice, information systems and office systems administration, among others, is ready to receive the impacted students, the mayor said.

In addition to being accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), the University College is centrally located, just steps from Puerto Rico Coliseum José Miguel Agrelot and the Urban Train.

Likewise, Romero said, it has excellent facilities, among which its sports complex, gym, laboratories and employment office stand out. The institution has the most accessible academic credit in Puerto Rico at only $85 per credit.

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University College also stands out for its nursing department, which has associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree programs, as well as associate degrees in instrumentation technologies, electrical power, and electronic engineering.

“Given the sudden closure, the University College will be guaranteeing the validation of credits for affected students,” Romero said. “In the same way, financial aid opportunities and payment facilities will be offered to active American University students who request a transfer for June or August of this year.”

“The College is distinguished by its excellent academic offerings and by the success of its graduates inside and outside of Puerto Rico,” the mayor said in a written statement.

Frontier launches additional direct routes to Puerto Rico

By THE STAR STAFF

Six of eight new direct Frontier Airlines routes began Thursday at Luis Muñoz Marín, Rafael Hernández and Mercedita airports, which add over $113 million to the island economy.

“Frontier’s expansion on the island raises the number of its direct routes to 20, injects an estimated $113.5 million into the local economy, and contributes to the creation of new jobs,” Puerto Rico Tourism Company Executive Director Carlos Mercado Santiago said.

Alfredo González, Frontier’s international sales manager, noted that the airline’s “expansion in Puerto Rico will connect the island with several of the most popular destinations throughout the United States, as well as Cancún.”

“Puerto Ricans will have greater access to Frontier’s ‘Low Fares Done Right’ program,” he added.

Edward Zayas, Discover Puerto Rico’s chief strategy officer, pointed out how tourism improves Puerto Rico’s economy, increasing air capacity, generating employment, and strengthening the visitor economy.

San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo

The new routes increase to 20 the number of Frontier Airlines direct routes to Puerto Rico.

Gun owners’ group objects to ammunition purchase limits

By THE STAR STAFF

The Public Safety, Science and Technology Committee in the island House of Representatives began public hearings Thursday on House Bill 1648, which would limit the amount of ammunition sold annually to licensed gun owners, hunters or target shooters.

Penned by Reps. José Bernardo Márquez Reyes, Juan José Santiago Nieves and Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez, the tripartisan bill would limit to 500 rounds the amount of ammunition for each weapon that the individual owns, up to an annual overall limit of 5,000 bullets.

Currently, under Act 168-2019, known as the Weapons Law of 2020, there is no limit to the amount of ammunition that a person with a weapons license can buy, and it is not until the purchase amounts to 20,000 rounds in a year that the police are able to corroborate the use of ammunition.

During the hearing, Johnny Acevedo, director of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau’s Weapons Regulation and Licensing Division, supported the proposed amendment to the measure since most of the homicides and robberies committed on the island involve the use of firearms.

“The acquisition of thousands of rounds of ammunition in a year is unreasonable,” said Acevedo, who

likewise favored establishing a limit to the purchase of ammunition for people dedicated to the sport of target shooting at a maximum of 10,000 rounds and not 5,000, as provided in the amendment to the statute. He said more than 26 million rounds of ammunition were sold in Puerto Rico in 2002.

“During 2023, the figure is 8.5 million,” he said.

The president of the Corporation for the Defense of the Puerto Rican Weapons

License Holder, Ariel Torres Meléndez, rejected the bill, which he considers unconstitutional.

‘’The problem of the rise in crime is not in legally acquired ammunition and weapons. The problem comfortably resides in other aspects that, in effect, can be legislated,’’ Torres Meléndez said. “Attempting to amend a weapons law protected by a constitutional right for the mere fact or allegation that some people have violated the law is simply

unacceptable. Surely such an amendment would not hold up in court.”

Torres Meléndez asked that no more legislation be used to deprive people of their rights and urged the authorities to attack the illegal trafficking of arms and ammunition “instead of legislating against those who fully comply with the laws and the established order.”

Elba Cruz, a lawyer at the Department of Justice, emphasized that “there is no doubt that the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental one and that its regulation in Puerto Rico has historical roots.”

“Similarly, we state that the Department’s position is to ensure compliance with the law in society and prosecute those who commit criminal violations,” she said.

Cruz specified that there is no legal impediment to reducing the legal purchase of ammunition in quantity from 20,000 to 5,000 rounds. However, she raised a flag that limiting the amount of ammunition a person with a weapons license can buy must be analyzed in the crucible of the second amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Special Investigations Bureau Commissioner Rafael Freytes Cutrera, meanwhile, stressed that limiting the amount of ammunition that a person can acquire is not the appropriate solution to the problem of the illegal sale of ammunition.

Lawmaker calls on fiscal board to approve roadwork for Arecibo

By THE STAR STAFF

District 14 (Arecibo and Hatillo) Rep. José “Memo” González Mercado demanded on Thursday that the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico approve road rehabilitation contracts in the Arecibo district known as the “Villa del Capitán Correa,” including state highways PR-626, 628 and 637, among others.

“It is implausible that yours truly, the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) and, above all, the people of Arecibo, are at the mercy of the Oversight Board that has not acted on the contracts, which are already signed, to begin the rehabilitation work of dozens of kilometers of roads,” González Mercado said. “The delay in the evaluation and approval of these contracts is an act of total insensitivity toward our people and we

will not tolerate it.”

“I request, in an expeditious manner, the approval of the contracts, duly developed and processed, for the rehabilitation of state highways PR-626, 628 and 637, among others,” the lawmaker added. “The people in Arecibo do not deserve this, on the contrary, the funds for these works, so necessary to improve the quality of life of our people and promote economic development in the municipality, are duly identified and allocated for the respective projects. There is no reason for the delay.”

González Mercado, who has promoted the reconstruction of the Arecibo road network, stressed that the work “stalled by the bureaucratic process of the Board also endangers the residents of the areas surrounding the aforementioned roads because they are in very bad condition.”

Special Investigations Bureau Commissioner Rafael Freytes Cutrera, at left, said limiting the amount of ammunition that a person can acquire is not the appropriate solution to the problem of the illegal sale of ammunition.

Rep. José González Mercado

Fiscal board seeks expedited permits for solar projects deemed critical infrastructure

By THE STAR STAFF

The Financial Oversight and Management Board asked 16 agencies and municipalities on Thursday to issue expedited permits for three solar power projects that were declared critical infrastructure.

The expedited permits must be issued by May 23. If the agencies and municipalities fail to submit the expedited permits in a timely manner, “the Oversight Board will develop, in consultation with the Governor, an Expedited Permitting Process” on the agency’s or city’s behalf pursuant to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), the oversight board said.

The three solar projects were presented by Clean Flexible Energy, a subsidiary of AES Puerto Rico, which sells energy produced by coal to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA).

Last month, the oversight board informed Clean Flexible Energy that it was going to classify Jobos Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the Salinas Solar and BESS project, and the Naguabo A & B Solar project as “critical

Last month, the Financial Oversight and Management Board informed Clean Flexible Energy that it was going to classify Jobos Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the Salinas Solar and BESS project, and the Naguabo A & B Solar project as “critical projects” under Title V of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act.

projects” under Title V of PROMESA.

Title V of PROMESA establishes a process for the renewal of the vital infrastructure of Puerto Rico through the establishment of expedited procedures for the review and granting of permits of those projects considered “critical,” such as energy projects.

According to PROMESA, the projects must meet certain criteria related to their impact in an emergency; availability of funds to implement the project; cost of the project and amount of Puerto Rico government funds required, if any; and the environmental and economic benefits provided by the project.

The statute creates the position of revitalization coordinator, which is currently vacant, to determine if the projects in question can be classified as critical infrastructure and to make recommendations to the oversight board.

Clean Flexible Energy had asked the oversight board last November to consider its projects for Title V classification, the board said.

The oversight board then issued a letter to CFE President Jesús Bolinaga requesting additional information to assist with a review.

Resident commissioner quizzes interior chief about wind power development

By THE STAR STAFF

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) will form a new Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Working Group to study and advance wind energy development in federal waters off Puerto Rico, Resident Commissioner Jennifer González Colón announced this week in a written communication.

At the recent hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee to evaluate the DOI’s fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget, González Colón questioned DOI Secretary Deb Haaland about the department’s statutory efforts to study and seek ways to develop offshore wind farms in federal waters adjacent to U.S. territories.

The provision is part of Public Law 117-169, includes language from the resident commissioner’s measure, the Offshore Wind for Territories Act, which empowers the DOI to study and, if feasible, authorize the development of offshore wind energy facilities in federal waters adjacent to Puerto Rico and the rest of the U.S. territories.

“The FY 2024 budget request indicates that DOI, through its Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), will begin moving forward with its leasing process to develop wind energy in federal waters in Puerto Rico in the current fiscal year (2023),” the resident commissioner asked during her question time. “Could you provide more information on what that planning process will look like? That is, what will it consist of and what kind of work will be carried out this year?”

In response, Haaland said “the department (DOI) and BOEM plan to initiate the process of identifying the area by forming an Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Working Group, which will help ensure early and frequent communication throughout the renewable energy leasing process.”

“We look forward to formally proposing the formation of the new Puerto Rico Working Group very soon and look forward to working with your office and the Government of Puerto Rico, and its various stakeholders, in advancing this issue,” Haaland added. “So we will be absolutely in touch about this and thank you for your

question.”

González Colón also followed up on other matters under the department’s jurisdiction, including the need for personnel in the National Wildlife Refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the island. The needs of the San Juan National Historic Site managed by the National Park Service (NPS) were also discussed. For fiscal year 2024, the DOI is proposing an allocation of nearly $42 million in Great American Outdoors Act funds for wall repairs in park fortifications.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times)

UPR cancer center presents 28 investigations at international events

By THE STAR STAFF

The Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Puerto Rico (CCCUPR) last week presented 28 investigations on the human papillomavirus and other cancer-related topics at two international events in the United States.

The Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Puerto Rico presented over two dozen investigations on the human papillomavirus and other cancer-related topics at two international events in the mainland United States last week.

“The importance of our participation in both events is that we are conducting high-caliber research,” CCCUPR Executive Director Dr. Marcia Cruz Correa said in a written statement.

In the forums, collaborations are established with colleagues from other states, enriching the research experience and providing professional exposure for the students involved.

The CCCUPR is a public corporation created in 2004 to address the need for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in Puerto Rico, a disease that affects some 16,000 people in Puerto Rico annually.

Aerospace and Aeronautics Industry Council launches website

By THE STAR STAFF

The Aerospace and Aeronautics Industry Council of Puerto Rico (CIAA by its Spanish initials) has launched its website as a strategy to promote CIAA initiatives, lay out Puerto Rico’s potential to the world and attract new investors, CIAA President and Puerto Rico Ports Authority Executive Director Joel A. Pizá Batiz announced Thursday.

“With great satisfaction, we launch this website of the Aerospace and Aeronautical Industry Council of Puerto Rico, which elevates our management to another level to promote the initiatives of the Council, provide opportunities for the development of and investment in such industries in Puerto Rico. and lays out the potential of the island to the world, both in its commercial fields and its educational institutions,” the CIAA president said.

Pizá Batiz noted that the page (https://www.aerospacecouncil. pr.gov) is useful, dynamic, easily accessible and allows direct connection with those interested in developing

aerospace and aeronautics projects in Puerto Rico. Its main menu includes several sections such as Our Team, Press Room, Business Opportunities, the application process for an Operator License for a Launch Spaceport at Ceiba Airport, and environmental studies and reports.

“I thank the Office of Innovation and Technology Services (PRITS) and its executive director, Nannette Martínez Ortiz, for their collaboration in the creation of the digital page, which is available in English and Spanish, and has the cybersecurity guarantees to safeguard the information of its users,” Pizá Batiz added.

The PRITS director noted that “from our office, we are redesigning the portals of government agencies with the focus on improving the user experience, so that citizen services are provided efficiently, through the implementation of new technologies and world-class innovations.”

The CIAA was created by Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia on April 25, 2022, with the purpose of studying and recommending an integrated plan for research, development

CPAs to host forum on island insurance industry

By THE STAR STAFF

The insurance industry in Puerto Rico continues to face diverse challenges due to economic uncertainty, increases in cost of capital, volatility in financial markets, increased inflation and high reinsurance costs.

Given this scenario, the Certified Public Accountants Association of Puerto Rico (CCPA by its Spanish initials) will hold the XXIV Annual Insurance Industry Forum next Thursday, May 11 at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, where a panel of experts will present a survey of the market and discuss alternatives, as well as possible solutions, to the aforementioned challenges.

“The insurance industry has an impact on all aspects of our lives and economy, being essential for risk management,” said CPA Aixa González Reyes, president of the CCPA. “The current economic environment impacts the price

of insurance premiums, investment portfolios, reinsurance costs, administrative costs and the industry’s profitability

prospects in the short and medium term.”

The event will include the special participation of Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner Alexander Adams Vega. In addition, there will be a panel of experts who will present a market survey and discuss alternatives, as well as possible solutions to the challenges faced by an industry that is so important for the island’s economic development.

The following topics will be presented as part of the agenda: insurance in an uncertain economy; the effect on investment portfolios of an uncertain present and future; reinsurance market, recent events and their impact on Puerto Rico; technological advances in the Puerto Rico insurance industry; and an analysis of each segment of the insurance industry in Puerto Rico: property & casualty, life and health.

Those interested in attending can register at www. colegiocpa.com. The forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

and investment in the aerospace and aeronautical industry in Puerto Rico.

Aerospace and Aeronautics Industry Council President Joel A. Pizá Batiz said the council’s new web page is useful, dynamic, easily accessible and allows direct connection with those interested in developing aerospace and aeronautics projects in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner Alexander Adams Vega

Meet the House Republicans who Democrats hope will defect on the debt limit

By CATIE EDMONDSON

House Democrats who this week began a long-shot bid attempting to force a debt limit increase bill to the floor are pinning their hopes not just on a convoluted legislative gambit, but also on another highly improbable feat: getting a small group of Republicans to cross party lines and join them.

While they concede it faces long odds, Democrats privately argue there is a path to pulling it off — or at least to coming close enough that Republicans feel compelled to cut a deal with them to head off a catastrophic default.

It is based on the belief that some Republican lawmakers — especially among the 18 who represent districts that President Joe Biden won in 2020 — could be persuaded to vote with Democrats to pass an 11th-hour debt limit increase that would pull the nation from the brink of financial ruin.

“There are 18 House Republicans who like to call themselves ‘moderates,’” said Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee. “Here’s a chance for them to really put their money where their mouth is. Join with House Democrats to ensure we don’t suffer the first-ever default in American history.”

Democrats on Tuesday set in motion a plan that would allow them to bypass Republican leaders and bring up legislation to increase the debt ceiling without the spending cuts and policy changes the GOP has demanded in exchange. They could do so through a discharge petition, which forces a bill to the floor if a majority of the House signs on to calling for it.

If every Democrat supported the move, at least five Republicans would be needed to advance such a measure to a vote.

There is little evidence so far that House Republicans — even those in the most Bidenfriendly districts — are inclined to undercut Speaker Kevin McCarthy, especially before he gets to the negotiating table with the president. The two are scheduled to meet in person Tuesday at the White House for the first time since February.

Republicans of all stripes have said they are in favor of spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling, and bucking the

party to vote with Democrats to increase the nation’s borrowing limit would be seen as tantamount to a political betrayal.

But that could change if talks between McCarthy and Biden stall and the nation barrels toward a default, now projected as soon as June 1.

Here are some Republicans to watch.

The blue-state Republicans

The predicted red wave for Republicans never quite materialized in 2022. But in New York, the party routed Democrats, partly as a result of a haywire redistricting cycle, and six Republican candidates won election in congressional districts that had voted for Biden.

Democrats now consider five of those freshmen as some of the top prospects for cutting a deal. One of them, Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents the suburbs north of New York City, had previously privately asked about the feasibility of a discharge petition.

But he has also laid responsibility for negotiating a deal squarely at Biden’s feet.

“The White House needs to acknowledge the fact that there is no longer one-party rule,” Lawler said in an interview earlier this year. “They need to negotiate in good faith, and they can’t circumvent the speaker by just going to myself and my colleagues in these Biden districts.”

Democrats are also considering a group of lawmakers from California, including Reps. David Valadao, Young Kim, Michelle Steel and John Duarte, who had one of the closest elections in the nation.

Valadao has cultivated a reputation for years of sometimes defying his party, including when he voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021 for inciting an insurrection at the Capitol. Complicating any Democratic efforts to recruit Valadao: He is a close ally of McCarthy, who helped protect him from a serious primary challenge after he voted for impeachment.

The veteran ‘problem solvers’

Some of the earliest indicators of whether there is appetite among Bidendistrict Republicans to strike a deal would come from two of the most outspoken centrist veterans in the conference: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Don Bacon of Nebraska.

Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent and U.S.

attorney, has previously bucked his party, especially on gun control. He was one of two Republicans who voted last year to ban assault rifles and one of eight who voted in 2021 to expand background checks for firearms purchasers.

Bacon, a former Air Force officer, helped lead the legislative charge to strip the names of Confederate leaders from military bases and held firm even after the Trump White House called him and urged him to abandon the effort.

Neither man has given any indication that he would break from his party to raise the debt ceiling. But Fitzpatrick told E&E News that he voted for the House GOP bill — which conditioned a debt limit increase on spending cuts and policy changes — only because he knew it would never become law.

The longest of the long shots

Some Biden-district lawmakers, including two freshmen, Reps. Jen Kiggans of Virginia and Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, quickly became favorites of House Republican leaders and are unlikely to defect.

Kiggans, a former Navy helicopter pilot, has in fact been on the front line of GOP efforts to combat messaging from the Biden administration that House Republicans’ bill would gut veterans’ health care programs.

“I’m disgusted that the VA would blatantly lie about this bill & willingly use our nation’s heroes as political pawns,” she wrote on Twitter.

That also goes for Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona, who has hung on to his Biden-friendly seat despite repeated Democratic efforts to dislodge him. Schweikert, who has previously aligned himself with the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, has cut a far more conservative figure than his increasingly liberal district would suggest.

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, on Feb. 7, 2023. Faced with an impasse over raising or suspending the nation’s debt limit, some White House officials are looking to a clause in the 14th Amendment to ensure the United States does not default on its debt.

Former FBI agent charged in Jan. 6 riot

By ADAM GOLDMAN and ALAN FEUER

Federal prosecutors have charged a former FBI agent with illegally entering the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot and said he had called police officers Nazis as he encouraged a mob of Trump loyalists to kill them.

The former agent, Jared L. Wise, was arrested Monday and faces four misdemeanor counts, including disrupting the orderly conduct of government and trespassing, after agents received a tip in January 2022 that he had been inside the Capitol, according to a criminal complaint.

Wise, 50, told the police they were like the Gestapo, Nazi Germany’s feared secret police, the complaint said. When violence erupted, he shouted in the direction of rioters attacking the law enforcement officers, “Kill ’em! Kill ’em! Kill ’em!”

Wise raised his arms in celebration after breaching the Capitol in a face mask, and he escaped through a window, the complaint added.

Over the past two years, scores of rioters with military experience have been arrested in connection with the Capitol attack. But Wise is the rare former federal agent to have been charged. The FBI said agents first found Wise living in New Braunfels, Texas, before he moved to Bend, Oregon, in June.

Thomas E. Caldwell, a member of the Oath Keepers who was convicted in November of felony charges stemming from the Jan. 6 riot, had once worked with the FBI. And Mark S. Ibrahim, an active-duty agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration, was charged in July 2021 in connection with the riot. His case has not yet gone to trial.

The Justice Department’s investigation of the Capitol attack, already the largest it has ever conducted, has resulted in more than 1,000 arrests, with the possibility of many more to come.

From 2004 to 2017, Wise worked on public corruption and counterterrorism matters at the FBI field offices in Washington, D.C., and New York. He was briefly detailed to Libya to help agents investigate the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012, that killed four Americans. Wise left the bureau after his supervisors in New York became unhappy with his work, and his career had stalled, a former senior FBI official said.

Wise later joined the conservative group Project Veritas under the supervision of a former British spy, Richard Seddon, who had been recruited by security contractor Erik Prince to train operatives to infiltrate trade unions, Democratic congressional campaigns and other targets.

Supporters of former President Donald Trump during the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol Building in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. Federal prosecutors have charged a former FBI agent with illegally entering the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot and said he had called police officers Nazis as he encouraged a mob of Trump loyalists to kill them.

At Project Veritas, according to a former employee with direct knowledge of his employment, Wise used the code name Bendghazi and trained at the Prince family ranch in Wyoming with other recruits. Wise was among a group of Project Veritas operatives who were assigned to infiltrate teachers unions in Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Kentucky, according to the former employee. Seddon oversaw the operation.

Wise apparently left Project Veritas in mid-2018, the former employee said.

Judge dismisses Trump’s lawsuit against The New York Times

By LIAM STACK

ANew York judge dismissed former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against The New York Times earlier this week, saying the newspaper’s Pulitzer Prizewinning investigation into his finances was clearly protected by the First Amendment.

When Trump filed the lawsuit in 2021, he accused the paper and three of its reporters of conspiring in an “insidious plot” with his estranged niece, Mary Trump, to improperly obtain his confidential tax records for a series of stories published in 2018.

In a ruling filed Wednesday afternoon, Justice Robert R. Reed of state Supreme Court in Manhattan wrote that Donald Trump’s claims against the Times and its reporters “fail as a matter of constitutional law.”

“Courts have long recognized that reporters are entitled to engage in legal and ordinary news-gathering activities without fear of tort liability — as these actions are at the very core of protected first amendment activity,” Reed wrote.

The judge also ordered Trump to pay legal expenses and associated costs for the Times and its reporters, Susanne Craig, David Barstow and Russ Buettner.

“The New York Times is pleased with the judge’s decision today,” said Charlie Stadtlander, a spokesperson for the company. “It is an important precedent reaffirming that the press is protected when it engages in routine news gathering to obtain information of vital importance to the public.”

In a statement, Trump’s lawyer, Alina

his tax returns during the 2016 presidential campaign. Presidential candidates had routinely released their returns for at least four decades, but Trump declined, citing an ongoing audit.

That secrecy led to criticism that lasted throughout his presidency and to questions about his financial holdings.

The documents obtained by the Times were the basis of a series of articles that documented what the newspaper described as Trump’s history of tax avoidance and “outright fraud.” The series was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in explanatory reporting in 2019.

The investigation also cast doubt on the former president’s claims to be a selfmade billionaire. Instead, it found that he had inherited the equivalent of at least $413 million from his father, a real estate developer, much of it through “dubious tax schemes.”

Trump has frequently threatened to sue news media organizations during his long career in public life and has unsuccessfully sued the Times in the past.

In 2020, Trump’s reelection campaign sued the Times for libel after the Opinion section, which operates independently from the newsroom, published a guest essay titled “The Real Trump-Russia Quid Pro Quo.” That lawsuit was dismissed in 2021.

A New York judge dismissed former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against The New York Times on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, saying the newspaper’s Pulitzer Prizewinning investigation into his finances was clearly protected by the First Amendment.

Fed makes 10th rate increase and opens door to pause

By JEANNA SMIALEK

Federal Reserve officials raised interest rates by a quarter-point earlier this week, the 10th straight increase in an aggressive campaign to tame rapid inflation. But they also opened the door to pausing rate increases as their policies combine with bank turmoil to weigh down the economy.

Central bankers lifted rates to a range of 5% to 5.25%, a level they had not reached since the summer of 2007. The move capped the fastest series of rate increases since the 1980s.

But in their statement announcing the decision, policymakers also tempered language around future rate increases, saying that additional moves “may” be appropriate. Fed Chair Jerome Powell underscored in a news conference following the release that any additional changes would hinge on incoming economic data.

Taken together, those statements were a meaningful shift in the Fed’s stance. For months, officials had assumed that additional increases would be needed. Now, they could stop raising interest rates at any upcoming meeting — perhaps as soon as their gathering June 13-14.

Yet central bankers were careful to keep their options open at a hugely uncertain economic moment, suggesting that they could continue to raise rates if the economy and inflation prove hot.

“A decision on a pause was not made today,” Powell said at his news conference. “We’ll be driven by incoming data, meeting by meeting, and we’ll approach that question at the June meeting.”

Stocks, which initially reacted positively to the Fed’s statement, slumped after Powell’s remarks suggested that a gentler rate path was not guaranteed. The S&P 500 ended the day down 0.7%.

The Fed’s careful stance reflects the complicated set of challenges that central bankers are confronting. The central bank is trying to tame inflation by cooling the economy, but without putting it in a deep freeze. Officials do not want unemployment to soar by more than is necessary to wrestle price increases under control.

For now, inflation remains well above their 2% goal, at 4.2% as measured by the personal consumption expenditures index, and

growth has shown signs of resilience despite the central bank’s many rate moves. At the same time, tumult in the banking sector could slow lending and increase the odds of a recession, and an impending debt limit showdown could spark turmoil in markets, among other risks.

Fed officials are trying to figure out how much they expect the economy to slow in light of those developments — and what that means for policy.

“We have credit conditions tightening not just in the normal way, but perhaps a little bit more,” Powell said. “We have to factor all of that in.”

Since early March, three large banks have collapsed and required government intervention. Powell suggested that trouble in the sector was causing at least some banks to pull back on extending credit, but he was clear that the extent of the impact was uncertain.

If consumer spending continues to chug along despite the banking upheaval and higher interest rates, it could allow companies to continue raising prices. In that case, the Fed may need to do more to make sure that inflation comes back under control. But if the economy is barreling toward a recession in light of recent

developments, the Fed might instead strike a more cautious stance.

When the Fed raises interest rates, it makes it more expensive, and often more difficult, for families to take out loans to buy houses or cars, or for businesses to raise money for expansions. That slows both consumer spending and hiring. As wage growth sags and unemployment rises, people become more cautious and the economy decelerates further.

That chain reaction can be painful. When Paul Volcker’s Fed raised interest rates to nearly 20% in the early 1980s, it helped to push joblessness above 10%. But today’s Fed does not expect to raise interest rates nearly that high, and officials have been hoping they can engineer a “soft landing”: a situation in which the economy pulls back enough to return inflation to normal, but not so much that lots of people lose their jobs.

Powell has maintained that a positive outcome like that might still be possible. Fed staff members, by contrast, think a mild recession is likely this year, Powell said.

Given the possibility of a downturn, the Fed’s recent rate moves are drawing increased scrutiny — including from Democrats in Congress. Many are questioning whether the

central bank is risking a serious recession that might painfully push up unemployment by lifting borrowing costs at a time when other challenges abound.

Achieving a gentle slowdown could be more complicated in light of recent bank troubles. Fed policy has played a role in the problems: Many of the banks under stress in recent weeks have suffered because they did not adequately protect themselves against rising interest rates, which have reduced the market value of their older mortgages and securities holdings.

And there were already other signs that the Fed’s moves — which take time to have their full effect — were beginning to hit the economy. More-expensive mortgages have translated into a slowdown in the housing market. Hiring is gradually moderating, and fewer jobs are going unfilled.

On the other hand, inflation has been rapid for two years now and is showing staying power. Price increases are increasingly driven by service industries like travel and child care, rather than temporary supply shortages or oil price spikes. That could make today’s inflation difficult to fully stamp out.

The Fed chair said he and his fellow officials thought inflation would take time to come down. It could be that demand will need to slow more, he added, and that the labor market will need to soften to bring price increases back to a normal level.

“In that world, it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to cut rates,” he said.

But markets see things differently. Investors are largely betting that Fed officials will not raise interest rates further this year, and some predict a rate decrease as soon as this summer. By the end of the year, many expect rates to be well below their current level.

Those expectations could mean, in part, that investors have become nervous about a possible debt limit default. The Treasury announced this week that the government could run out of space to keep paying its bills as soon as June 1.

White House economists warned in an analysis released Wednesday that if any default on the nation’s bills lasted for a prolonged period — at least three months — the stock market would lose 45% of its value and the economy would shed 8 million jobs as it entered recession.

Jerome Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, speaks at a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington, May 3, 2023. Federal Reserve officials raised interest rates by a quarter-point on Wednesday in the tenth straight move in their fight against rapid inflation — but they also opened the door to a possible pause in rate increases.

Wall Street ends down as PacWest fuels fears of deeper bank crisis

Wall Street ended lower on Thursday after PacWest’s move to explore strategic options deepened fears about the health of U.S. lenders and hit shares of regional banks as well as JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo & Co and other major financial players.

PacWest Bancorp tumbled 51% after it confirmed it was exploring strategic options, including a sale. Shares of the regional lender and other banks got hammered recently on fears of a worsening banking crisis.

Western Alliance Bancorp plummeted almost 39%, with trading in the stock halted multiple times. At its session low, Western Alliance shares were down more than 60% and the lender denied a report that it was exploring a potential sale.

Comerica and Zion Bancorporation both lost about 12%. The KBW Regional Banking index ended down 3.5%, bouncing off its session low which was down about 7%.

Canada’s Toronto-Dominion Bank Group called off its $13.4 billion acquisition of First Horizon Corp, triggering a 33% slump in the U.S. bank’s shares.

“Regional banks and tightening credit conditions are weighing on the market as investors try to recalibrate on where we are in terms of credit cycles and bank lending standards, and when a potential recession may hit,” said Zhe Shen, managing director of diversifying strategies at TIFF Investment Management.

The CBOE volatility index, also known as Wall Street’s fear gauge, rose to as much as 21 points, its highest since late March.

Of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes, nine declined, led lower by financials, down 1.29%, followed by a 1.26% loss in communication services.

The S&P 500 declined 0.72% to end the session at 4,061.22 points. It was its fourth straight session of declines, the first such streak since February

The Nasdaq declined 0.49% to 11,966.40 points, while Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.86% to 33,127.74 points.

Volume on U.S. exchanges was relatively heavy, with 12.0 billion shares traded, compared to an average of 10.5 billion shares over the previous 20 sessions.

On Sunday, regulators seized troubled First Republic Bank and JPMorgan Chase agreed to buy majority of its assets, marking the largest U.S. bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis.

With investors increasingly worried a widening banking crisis and an economic downturn, U.S. interest rate futures prices now imply traders mostly expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to cut rates by the central bank’s July meeting, according to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.

The Fed on Wednesday raised interest rates by 25 basis points, while Chair Jerome Powell said that it was too soon to say with certainty that the rate-hike cycle was over as inflation remains the chief concern.

Among the largest U.S. banks, JPMorgan dropped 1.4% and Wells Fargo lost 4.25%.

Data on Thursday showed the number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits increased last week as the labor market gradually softens amid higher interest rates, which are cooling demand in the economy.

Apple Inc dipped 1%, with the iPhone maker is set to report

MOST ASSERTIVE STOCKS

PUERTO RICO STOCKS

quarterly results after the closing bell, including an update on its funds set aside for buybacks.

Moderna Inc jumped 3.2% following stronger-than-expected sales for its COVID-19 vaccine for the first quarter.

Russia fires drones and missiles at Kyiv after Kremlin explosion

By ANDREW E. KRAMER, MARC SANTORA and MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ

One day after Russia accused Ukraine of targeting the Kremlin in a drone attack, Ukrainian air defense systems Thursday targeted drones flying over Kyiv, including one that was seen over the government center in the heart of the capital.

As night fell, loud explosions echoed over Kyiv for the fourth night in less than a week, and the second time since the two blasts above the Kremlin, which sparked dueling accusations between the two countries.

Ukraine denied any involvement in the incident at the Kremlin but took Moscow’s threats of escalation seriously.

“Of course, the efforts to cover the skies over Kyiv will only increase,” Fedir Venislavsky, a member of the parliamentary committee on national security, said on Radio Liberty.

At least two drones were spotted over Kyiv, and video shared online showed one being shot down, prompting cheers from watchers below in Kyiv’s central square, referred to locally as the Maidan. The flight of a drone over central Kyiv’s government quarter — near the home of parliament and the presidential office — and its destruction was freighted with both symbolic and strategic significance.

The Maidan, also known as Independence Square, is where Ukrainians took to the streets in protests nearly a decade ago, ultimately leading to a revolution that forced the Kremlin-backed president from office. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has used memories of that moment many times to rally a nation now at war.

At another site in the center of Kyiv, debris landed in a park within a few hundred yards of the parliament building. Police were seen standing around a gray-painted piece of a wing.

Police and firefighters cordoned an office building nearby where ground-floor windows were shattered.

The area smelled of smoke. Oleksandr Kekhter, who works in clothes wholesale, and his wife, Daria Kekhter, were walking to seek shelter in a parking garage during the air raid alert when they saw a drone, what they described as looking like a small propeller airplane, in the sky.

“This is the third night in a row a drone flew over our house,” Oleksandr Kekhter said. “It’s happening every night. We hide in the parking garage.”

Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, confirmed in a statement that a drone had been shot down.

While Kyiv has come under frequent and often unrelenting bombardment since

Russia began its full-scale invasion more than a year ago, rarely has Russia launched drones at the capital night after night. The air raid alarm Thursday evening was not nationwide, as is often the case, but focused only on Kyiv.

Explosions also shook Kyiv early Thursday, and a regional official said air defenses shot down Russian drones and ballistic

missiles. The Ukrainian military’s southern command in Odesa said drones were also shot down there in the early morning and provided images that suggested that some bore handwritten messages including “For Moscow” and “For the Kremlin.”

There were no reports of casualties in either the predawn or early-evening drone attacks Thursday. But in the southern region of Kherson, officials raised the death toll from Russian shelling Wednesday to 23 people, making it one of the deadliest barrages in Ukraine this year.

The United States and Ukraine said they feared that Russia would seek to intensify attacks after the explosions over the Kremlin on Wednesday, which were apparently caused by drones.

Russia blamed Ukraine for the episode, calling it an assassination attempt on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine, which typically maintains deliberate ambiguity over responsibility for attacks inside Russia, categorically denied involvement and accused Moscow of manufacturing the incident as a pretext for further aggression and to stir up public support.

It remained unclear who was responsible for the explosions, which occurred 15 minutes apart. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv issued a warning late Wednesday that there was a heightened risk of Russian missile attacks, including in the Ukrainian capital and surrounding area, citing “the recent uptick in strikes across Ukraine and inflammatory rhetoric from Moscow.”

Early Thursday in Kyiv, three booms rattled windows about 2:30 a.m. local time and police cordoned off what appeared to be debris from a missile or drone shot out of the sky over a central neighborhood. Some nearby windows were shattered, and the smell of smoke hung in the air.

Russia attacked Odesa with at least 15 drones, Ukraine’s southern military command said. The Ukrainians shot down 12, but three got through the air defense network and crashed into dorms for an educational institution. There were no reports of casualties, the Ukrainian military said.

Asked why Russia was attacking Kyiv with drones night after night, Kekhter said it was a sign of desperation.

“They show their people that not everything is lost, when really they lost, so people will support them and not protest,” he said.

Ukrainian soldiers from an artillery unit with the 35th Brigade use branches to camouflage weapons after firing on Russian positions near Avdiivka, in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine on May 4, 2023.

People visit blooming magnolia trees at a park in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 4, 2023.

Secret ‘mission’ for peace in Ukraine may show limits of pope’s influence

By JASON HOROWITZ

Asecret mission revealed days ago by Pope Francis to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine is so secret that Russia and Ukraine claim to know nothing about it.

The Kremlin said Tuesday that it had no idea what the pope was talking about. “Ukraine doesn’t know about it,” Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, said in an interview Wednesday, adding that he had scheduled a meeting for Thursday with the pope’s foreign minister. “I will for sure ask him what it is.”

Later Wednesday evening, the pope’s second-in-command and chief diplomat, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, told reporters, “to my knowledge, they were and are aware” of the peace plan, saying that the denial by the governments “surprises me.”

The apparent bewilderment of the war’s parties, and confusion around the existence of a plan contributed to the sense that the pope’s influence as a geopolitical player and peace-

maker — already chastened in countries like Cuba, South Sudan and Myanmar — did not extend to Ukraine.

Some supporters of Ukraine worry that in his eagerness to play a constructive role, Francis may be reducing himself to a pawn for

the likes of President Vladimir Putin of Russia or the Russian Orthodox Church, which has sought to give religious legitimacy to the invasion.

During a visit to Budapest, Hungary, last weekend, Francis met privately with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been a frequent defender of Russia, and a top Russian Orthodox Church prelate in Hungary, Metropolitan Hilarion. On the plane home, Francis was asked by journalists whether he thought the two men could accelerate the peace process or facilitate a meeting between Francis and Putin.

Francis answered with a cryptic reference to “a mission going on now, but it is not public yet” to bring peace, adding “when it is public I will talk about it.”

Asked about the comments, the office of Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the foreign minister, responded that since the “matter is under consideration,” it could not provide information for now, “but will do so in the near future.”

But what little is actually known about that effort has drawn either denial (the metropolitan

on Wednesday said he had no conversation about a peace plan with Francis), bafflement or deep skepticism from informed observers.

“The pope is out of the picture,” said Lucio Carraciolo, the editor of the leading Italian foreign affairs journal Limes. In December, he organized an event at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See featuring Parolin, who called for a “European peace conference” to help end the war.

“How can a Catholic pope be a mediator in an Orthodox environment?” Carraciolo said, adding that with Francis, the church “has no relevance in this kind of war.”

Still, the Vatican has actively tried to engage with both sides, working on prisoner releases and promising the Ukrainians that it would do what it could to help return children taken by Russia. One former Vatican official on Wednesday told the Italian press about a seven-point plan for a peace process that included getting major stakeholders around a table mediated by the Vatican.

Continues on page 14

Pope Francis waves to attendees as he arrives in the popemobile car for the weekly general audience at St. Peter’s square in the Vatican, on Wednesday.

From page 13

Yurash, the Ukrainian ambassador, said the Vatican has consistently expressed a desire to be involved in an eventual peace negotiation, and that to do that, its officials told him, it had to keep open “bridges” and “lines” to Russia.

But he noted that the Kremlin had repeatedly stymied Vatican overtures for a papal meeting with Putin, which Francis has repeatedly said would be a prerequisite for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Yurash argued the Russian Orthodox Church was trying to gain “legitimacy” through its relationship with the Vatican for “obvious aims of Russian propaganda.”

“It’s not absolutely clear for my side why the Holy See is always trying to still continue this very special relation with the Russian church and the Russian state,” he said, adding that the Ukrainian people, already suffering under an invasion, “cannot understand” the pope’s positioning.

Francis has repeatedly recalled that on the first day of

the war he called Zelenskyy, and then, to make what he has called a “clear gesture” of his openness to talk, visited Alexander Avdeyev, the Russian ambassador to the Holy See.

On the flight back from Budapest he called Avdeyev “a great man, a man comme il faut, a serious, cultured and balanced person.”

Avdeyev did not return a request for comment.

Francis’ openness to dialogue has also, especially in the beginning of the war, drawn criticism for assuming a neutrality that critics considered morally questionable in the face of clear Russian aggression.

The pope’s early reluctance to name Russia as the aggressor eventually led to criticism from Ukraine and warnings that he was in danger of ending up on the wrong side of history, with historians invoking Pius XII, who stayed essentially silent about Adolf Hitler’s Holocaust.

In May 2022, Francis wondered in an interview with the Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper, whether “NATO barking at Russia’s doors” may have “facilitated” anger from

the Kremlin that led to the invasion.

But in the same interview, he seemed to damage his status as an honest broker when he said he had pointed out to Patriarch Kirill I, the leader of the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church, who he spent years courting to mend a split between the Western and Eastern churches going back to 1054, “the patriarch cannot be transformed into Putin’s altar boy.”

After eventually condemning Russia as the aggressor, Francis has since compared Russia’s behavior with massacres under Josef Stalin and has consistently supported Ukrainians and called attention to their plight.

But Carraciolo said, the pope’s differing views could charitably be characterized as a “puzzle” that generated confusion and effectively disqualified the pontiff as a potential interlocutor.

Revealing an effort after meeting with players closer to the Russian side in Budapest was “not smart,” he said, also adding, “if it’s secret, you have to keep it secret.”

Fleeing Sudan, some find Saudi ships ‘a golden opportunity’ to escape

By VIVIAN NEREIM

Afew weeks ago, Ahmed al-Hassan was a medical student in Sudan working on a campaign to help refugees from a neighboring country. Then, the forces of two rival generals went to battle in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and he was forced to flee.

He left behind his home, his textbooks and the paperwork proving he was a student — stuffing basic necessities into a suitcase and a backpack — to escape with his ailing mother from the bullets, warplanes and shelling.

After a harrowing 14-hour bus ride across the country, they arrived in the seaside city of Port Sudan, where thousands of Sudanese and foreigners have gathered in hopes of catching a boat or a plane out of the country.

Standing in a line of evacuees waiting Wednesday to board a ship to Saudi Arabia — a 10-hour voyage across the Red Sea — al-Hassan, 21, said he knew that he was one of a lucky few Sudanese with the connections to find a way out of the conflict tearing his country apart. He was born in Saudi Arabia and has legal residency there, giving him and his mother access to the evacuation efforts overseen by the Saudis.

“It was a golden opportunity,” he said. “In Port Sudan, there are so many people who want to leave; it was a 1% chance for something like this to happen for me.”

The Saudis have sent naval ships and chartered commercial vessels on more than a dozen trips across the Red Sea, evacuating nearly 6,000 people so far, fewer than 250 of them Saudi citizens. A New York Times reporter traveled aboard one such naval ship from Port Sudan to Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, with a group of evacuees fleeing to safety.

While they are seeking refuge, the vast majority of the evacuees on this route would not be classified as refugees; Saudi authorities say they can take only those who have citizenship or legal residency in the kingdom or who have plans to travel onward.

Yet Saudi Arabia, one of the closest countries to Sudan with the means to manage evacuations, has played a central role in extricating people from the northeast African nation since the

violence erupted in mid-April.

There is a large Sudanese migrant population in Saudi Arabia, and Saudi officials have relationships with both of the warring generals, viewing Sudan’s stability as crucial to regional security. And the kingdom is a member of the four-member diplomatic group, known as the Quad, which recently oversaw the failed efforts to have Sudan transition to civilian-led rule.

The Saudi rescue mission also fits neatly with efforts by the oil-rich kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to portray his country as a rising global power and himself as a benevolent international actor and a neutral mediator.

“Welcome to the kingdom of humanity,” Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Dubais of Saudi Arabia told a group of Chinese, Sudanese and Saudi evacuees as they arrived at the port in Jiddah on Wednesday, swarmed by television cameras and accompanied by Fayez al-Malki, a Saudi actor who shared their entire journey with 4.3 million subscribers on Snapchat.

When they disembarked from the ship via a gangway, female Saudi soldiers handed them roses. The ships will continue to retrieve evacuees as long as the journey is safe, a Saudi military spokesperson said.

More than 100,000 people have fled Sudan in less than three weeks since the fighting broke out, and more than 300,000 have been displaced internally, U.N. agencies said Tuesday.

Port Sudan, controlled by the Sudanese army, has become a refuge as fighting rages in Khartoum.

Early Wednesday, tugboats laden with evacuees zipped across the water to Saudi naval ships. Dozens of men, women and children with dazed eyes waited quietly in two lines as Saudi soldiers inspected their bulging suitcases.

Departing was the HMS Mecca, with roughly 200 evacuees, including Rihab Mahdi, 45, a Sudanese mother of five whose family had been able to secure passage because her husband worked for years as a security officer for the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum.

“There are very few chances and a lot of people,” she said. Despite feeling lucky, she was overcome by sorrow at leaving her home, tossing schoolbooks out of her 7-year-old son’s backpack — “the best part,” he declared — and filling it with paja-

mas and other items of clothing.

“It’s a difficult thing to leave your country, your family, your friends,” she said.

Asked why they could not bring more Sudanese evacuees, a Saudi military spokesperson, Col. Turki al-Maliki, said that the kingdom’s authorities were exerting “maximum effort” but that certain requirements remained. As they arrive in Port Sudan, he said, priority is given to older people, women and children.

In Khartoum on Wednesday, the Sudanese army, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by Lt. Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, continued to fight, even as the army announced that it would agree to extend the current truce by one week, and the Rapid Support Forces affirmed its “full commitment to the declared humanitarian truce.”

The statements came a day after neighboring South Sudan announced that both generals had agreed to a cease-fire from Thursday and would name representatives to peace talks. But no date for negotiations was set, and previously truces have collapsed.

A Saudi evacuee from Sudan disembarking at the Jeddah port in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

What’s driving dollar doomsaying?

By PAUL KRUGMAN

Talk of “de-dollarization” and its dire consequences for the U.S. economy seems to be all over the place lately. Somehow, my previous efforts to dampen the frenzy haven’t worked.

Where’s this coming from? Much of it is from the usual suspects, such as the crypto cult, people for whom bitcoin is the answer regardless of the question. Some of it, I think, is coming from Vladimir Putin’s sympathizers, who want us to believe that America will be punished for, as they see it, “weaponizing” the dollar against the invasion of — I mean, special military operation in — Ukraine.

Elon Musk is among those warning that weaponizing the dollar will destroy its reserve currency status, because of course he is.

But what inspired me to write about the subject (again) is that lately, more sober voices, who should know better, are sounding the alarm. International relations experts like Fareed Zakaria warn that the dollar is a superpower we’re in danger of losing. Even economic analysts like Michael Pettis, whom I’ve found to be a valuable source of insights on China, seem to believe that dollar dominance is the only reason America can run persistent large trade deficits.

All of this is very odd. Even if you believe that the dollar’s dominance is in imminent danger — which you shouldn’t — a look at what that dominance actually entails makes it clear that the importance of controlling the world’s reserve currency is

greatly overrated.

What do we mean by saying that the dollar is a dominant currency? There’s a very nice summary in the first few pages of a 2021 paper by Gita Gopinath, now a top official at the International Monetary Fund, and Jeremy Stein. As they note, much of world trade is invoiced and settled in U.S. dollars; many banks based outside the United States nonetheless offer dollar-denominated deposits; many non-U.S. corporations borrow in dollars; central banks hold a large share of their reserves in dollar assets; and maybe (the evidence here is weaker) interest rates are lower, other things equal, when you borrow in dollars than when you borrow in other currencies.

This is all very impressive. But how much of it redounds to the benefit of the U.S. economy? Why, exactly, should America care whether a contract between Chinese exporters and Brazilian importers is written in dollars as opposed to yuan or reais?

A lot of what’s written about this subject begins with the assertion that the special role of the dollar gives America a unique ability to run a large balance of payments deficits, year after year, presumably because the dollar’s status forces other countries to accept our money. But even a quick look at the data shows that this claim is false. Yes, America has run persistent deficits, but so have other countries. We’re not even at the top of the league table.

When looking at the balance of payments on current accounts (the trade balance broadly defined so as to include services and investment income, such as interest payments, as well as trade in goods) and advanced economies that have their own currencies (that is, leaving out members of the euro area), it turns out that there are multiple nations able to run persistent deficits, and several have run bigger deficits relative to the size of their economies than we have. Britain, which has the deepest deficits, used to own a globally dominant currency — but the pound sterling stopped playing any important international role generations ago. The Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar have never been widely used outside their issuing nations.

So where does the idea that dollar dominance gives us a special ability to run deficits come from? I guess it’s just something that sounds as if it should be true, which I’ll come back to in a minute. But first, are there any other ways in which America gains special advantages from the dollar’s dominance?

Well, it’s possible that the worldwide use of the dollar creates the perception that dollar bonds are safe assets so that America can borrow more cheaply than other nations. It’s hard to tell, because there are multiple factors affecting interest rates — and U.S. borrowing costs are not, in fact, noticeably lower than those of other advanced countries. If there’s any effect, however, it must be small. I won’t go through the arithmetic, but I can’t see any way that, considering all this together, dollar dominance is worth more to America than a fraction of 1% of gross domestic product.

Why, then, are people making such a big deal over the possible end of dollar dominance? The answer, I believe, is

that global currency issues come across as glamorous and mysterious, so people imagine that they must be important — and yes, some people like to talk about them because they think it makes them sound sophisticated. You have to actually work with the numbers to appreciate how little is really at stake.

Which means that I’m almost reluctant to add that reports of the dollar’s coming demise are also probably greatly exaggerated. The aforementioned paper by Gopinath and Stein offers a detailed analysis of one channel through which the dollar maintains its dominance, adding to a long literature that includes, among other things, some old papers by yours truly. The bottom line in most of this analysis is that the dollar is widely used because it’s widely used — that all of the various roles the dollar plays create a web of self-reinforcement, keeping the dollar preeminent.

The point is that tugging on one or two strands of this web isn’t likely to cause it to unravel. Even if some governments express a desire to see payments conducted in other currencies, it’s not at all clear they can make that happen, since we’re mostly talking about private-sector decisions. And even if they can make partial de-dollarization stick, all the other advantages of the dollar as a banking and borrowing currency will remain.

So ignore all the dollar doomers out there. Or better yet, consider what their hyping of a nonissue says about their own judgment.

POR CYBERNEWS

SAN JUAN – El Comité Negociador de la Unión de Empleados de la Corporación del Fondo del Seguro de Estado descontinuó este jueves las conversaciones con la administración, tras el rechazo a sus propuestas económicas.

Las negociaciones habían comenzado el miércoles, después de más de 24 horas de protestas en las oficinas de la corporación, exigiendo mejoras en el Hospital Industrial y dispensarios regionales, y reclamando asuntos del Plan de Retribución y Compensación, así como el pago de 800 dólares por empleado prometido en octubre pasado por el

administrador Jesús Rodríguez Rosa. “Hoy sometimos una propuesta que a nuestro entender es viable, razonable y justa, sin embargo,

la misma fue rechazada por la administración en lo relativo a los aspectos económicos”, dijo María Medina, presidenta de la Unión, en un audio dirigido a los unionados en declaraciones escritas. Medina exhortó a los unionados a continuar realizando acciones concertadas en las regiones de la Corporación y a mantenerse unidos en sus reclamos a la administración. En marzo, la Unión acordó por unanimidad un voto de huelga para exigir transparencia en la implementación del Plan de Retribución y Clasificación.

La Unión de Empleados de la Corporación del Fondo del Seguro del Estado es el gremio más grande de la entidad y cuenta con 60 años de fundación.

Lanzan campaña para prevenir menores olvidados en vehículos en Puerto Rico

POR CYBERNEWS

S AN JUAN – La Comisión para la Seguridad en el Tránsito (CST) y el Departamento del Trabajo y Recursos Humanos (DTRH) lanzaron el jueves la campaña ¿Dónde dejaste a tu bebé? tras la firma del gobernador Pedro R. Pierluisi de la “Ley para Prevenir que Menores sean Olvidados en el Interior de un Automóvil”.

La campaña busca educar sobre las consecuencias fatales de la hipertermia.

“El mensaje educativo se refuerza con el estribillo ‘Asiento protector, úsalo correctamente’”, dijo el director ejecutivo de la CST, Luis Rodríguez Díaz en declaraciones escritas.

La campaña también ofrece consejos como colocar objetos personales en el asiento trasero para recordar revisar antes de cerrar el vehículo.

En Puerto Rico, desde 2011 hasta la fecha, se han registrado cuatro muertes por hipertermia en menores olvidados en vehículos. En abril de 2023, se reportó un caso en Bayamón sin fatalidad, pero con cargos por negligencia y causa para arresto.

El DTRH se unió a la campaña para aumentar los esfuerzos de prevención, educando a patronos públicos y privados sobre la seguridad de los menores. “El salvar vidas en la carretera es responsabilidad de todos, y unidos podemos lograr la meta de cero fatalidades en nuestras vías públicas”, concluyó Rodríguez Díaz.

BDE y ACMC firman acuerdo para apoyar a PyMEs locales

POR CYBERNEWS S AN JUAN – El Banco de Desarrollo Económico para Puerto Rico (BDE) y la Asociación de Comerciantes en Materiales de Construcción (ACMC) firmaron un acuerdo colaborativo con el objetivo de fomentar el desarrollo económico y proporcionar apoyo financiero a las pequeñas y medianas empresas locales del sector

construcción.

Luis Alemañy González, presidente del BDE, destacó que la construcción es un sector clave para el desarrollo económico de Puerto Rico y que su desempeño en el último año ha sido fundamental para impulsar la actividad económica, generar empleos y atraer inversión local y extranjera. “Estamos seguros de que el sector de la construcción seguirá desempeñando un papel fundamental en la recuperación económica de Puerto Rico”, declaró.

El BDE proporcionará a la ACMC alternativas de financiamiento que incluyen préstamos directos o líneas de crédito hasta 1,000,000 de dólares. Además, recibirá y atenderá diligentemente a los clientes referidos por la ACMC, asistiéndolos en el trámite correspondiente para la radicación de su solicitud de préstamo. El BDE también colaborará en la promoción de los servicios de la ACMC, y proveerá estadísticas del Centro de Estudios Económicos a la Asociación. “La firma de este Acuerdo

Colaborativo es un paso importante para el crecimiento económico de la Isla. Estamos entusiasmados de trabajar junto a la ACMC para proporcionar apoyo financiero y servicios a las pequeñas y medianas empresas locales”, mencionó Alemañy.

En el marco del acuerdo, la ACMC promoverá los servicios del BDE, orientará a sus socios sobre los diferentes programas de financiamiento y referirá a sus clientes para solicitar préstamos. Por su parte, el BDE proporcionará alternativas de financiamiento que incluyen préstamos directos o líneas de crédito de hasta un millón de dólares, asistirá a los clientes referidos y colaborará en la promoción de los servicios de la ACMC.

El BDE anunció recientemente la disponibilidad de 20 millones de dólares en líneas de crédito para el sector de la construcción, una iniciativa que busca ayudar a los contratistas a viabilizar los fondos federales y mitigar los efectos de la inflación en los precios de los materiales de construcción.

Unión de Empleados detiene conversaciones tras rechazo a propuestas económicas

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ review: Raccoon tears and a final mixtape

By MAYA PHILLIPS

Animal lovers, comic book fans and unofficial adjudicators of narrative continuity, action and style in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, lend me your ears. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is not the movie for you.

Perhaps this dour, visually off-putting 2 1/2-hour ASPCA nightmare of a film is only for completionist fans like me, arriving at the theater armed with overpriced popcorn and the hope that director James Gunn’s latest could replicate the romp and anti-gravity gambol of the first.

For those who need help getting their multiversal timeline untangled, “Guardians” is the second film of the so far ecstatically bad Phase Five of the MCU, after the, to quote my colleague, “thoroughly uninspired” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” We last caught our team of lovable riffraff in “Avengers: Infinity War,” when Thanos (Josh Brolin) threw his adopted daughter and galaxy guardian, Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), into an abyss to get one of the infinity stones, which he used to snap away half of the universe. (There were some dancing Groots and a cute holiday special about abducting Kevin Bacon, but — sorry, Kev — they were irrelevant.)

Now the Guardians are settling in at Knowhere, a community in the severed head of a celestial that serves as their home base. With Gamora gone, Peter (Chris Pratt), aka Star-Lord, is still grieving, unaware of the fact that somehow Gamora is still alive, sans her memories of him and the Guardians. When, a few minutes into the film, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) becomes victim to a deadly attack, the team is reunited with a hostile, partially amnesiac Gamora, who is reluctantly dragged into their plot to save him.

While Rocket is in critical condition, Peter and company do some risky snooping through Rocket’s traumatic backstory to figure out how to save his life and stop the man pursuing him, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). A powerful god figure, the High Evolutionary has genetically altered Rocket, other animals and even children to create a perfect race to inhabit his imagined utopia. (Yes, that’s another Nazi-coded villain for your bingo card.)

So much of “Guardians 3” seems to erupt from left field, most prominently the main story, which is driven by Rocket, even though the Guardians have mostly played second-string to Star-Lord, the plot-driving hero. The shift makes sense given the role this film plays as the end of the trilogy, resulting in a Guardians team with a different starting lineup and an unclear position in the context of the rest of the MCU. But the shift also feels belabored and emotionally manipulative; scenes upon

scenes of shot, blown up, tortured and incinerated CGI animals with big, emotive eyes are as merciless as clips of injured animals set to a Sarah McLachlan song.

It seems “Guardians” needs this much gratuitous trauma bait to establish its stakes and prove that the bad guy is, in fact, bad. Which is unfortunate because Iwuji, who offered a much more nuanced performance in Gunn’s edgy-fun DC Extended Universe series, “Peacemaker,” is left with just a thin silhouette of an antagonist to work with here. (Will Poulter and Maria Bakalova appear as idiotic secondary antagonists, for no real reason.)

Something like Thanos Lite or a knockoff Dr. Frankenstein, the High Evolutionary represents one of the central problems the franchise is facing in a post“Endgame” MCU: characters and circumstances that pale in comparison to Thanos and his cataclysmic, conclusive multi-arc-spanning plotline. Because at least the extent of Thanos’ power and the roots of his villain philosophy were clear.

“There is no god — that’s why I stepped in,” the High Evolutionary says at one point. This germ of a motivation does nothing but indicate all the questions that the film could have answered about this character to make him more interesting. Surely an atheist with a narcissistic personality and obsessive-compulsive disorder has some deeper psychology to unpack. Ah, well.

Although this “Guardians” is certainly less fun than the others, there are still glints of joy in the more mundane and ancillary quibbles among the found family of misfits. Dave Bautista gives another priceless performance as Drax, and Bautista’s signature chemistry works with Pom Klementieff as Mantis. Groot (Vin Diesel) has leveled up in the bang-bang-shoot-’em-up category, as has Nebula (Karen Gillan).

Although the film makes no attempt to explain the logic behind Gamora’s magical reappearance (“I’m not some infinity stone scientist!” Peter exclaims after trying to puzzle things out), it does at least give Saldaña the

opportunity to reinvent her character, which she manages beautifully. The same for Rocket, who gives an Oscar-worthy performance — via Cooper’s great voice acting, of course, but also via the animation, which makes his faces, postures and movements look so unbelievably believable.

Gunn makes the curious, bold choice to chase an unpleasant aesthetic that’s part David Cronenberg, part “Osmosis Jones.” A series of scenes takes place in a ship fashioned like viscera, with fleshy globules and architectural dendrites, often in nude tones. Squishy sound effects add an unwelcome layer of grossness.

Even when the movie switches back to the more lambent palette of nebulae and the luminous shine of the stars, Gunn’s direction doesn’t serve the full tableau. His camera is too voyeuristic, spinning enthusiastically on every axis during group fight scenes rather than giving us a steady look at the choreography.

At least this “Guardians,” like the previous ones, stays on beat with a fantastic soundtrack of Spacehog, Beastie Boys and Earth Wind & Fire. But pumping soundtrack aside, after a breakout hit and the sequel, “Everything Would Have Been Fine If Your Dad the Space God Played Catch With You: The Movie,” this final piece of the trilogy makes one thing apparent: “Guardians” was just a one-hit wonder.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

Rated PG-13 for some swearing and a zoo of horrors. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes. In theaters.

Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper, in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”

Bassist covers all the Latin and jazz bases

By ED MORALES

As he worked his way through a rice bowl at a Japanese restaurant near Columbus Circle in Manhattan on a recent afternoon, bassist, composer and arranger Carlos Henriquez reflected on the long history of Latino musicians in the jazz world.

“In the 1920s, there was a bassist and tuba player called Ralph Escudero who used to play with W.C. Handy and Fletcher Henderson,” he said, arching his manicured eyebrows for emphasis. “We’ve always been part of this. So, I’m going to say, Hey, I’m from the South Bronx, I’m Puerto Rican and I love jazz.”

Henriquez, who will lead an all-star band Friday and Saturday in a centennial tribute to mambo kings Tito Puente and Tito Rodríguez at Jazz at Lincoln Center, was about to join a rehearsal for the institution’s annual gala. Dressed down in a gray plaid flannel shirt and dark bluejeans, he took his place at his pivotally placed bassist’s chair as the orchestra practiced standards — the theme this year is “American Anthems” — including George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

“I’ve always visualized the bass as the catcher of a baseball team — we see everything, the whole game,” he said. “That catcher is dealing with everything that’s coming in and calling the plays. We, the bass players, can really determine where the music is going to, where the concept is going.”

Over about 25 years as a professional musician, Henriquez has developed a reputation as a grounded but wildly imaginative composer and player.

“Carlos has become a master of his instrument and writing arrangements,” timbalero José Madera said in a phone interview from his

home in Colorado. “He’s grown, he’s left the planet, he’s in outer space somewhere.”

Henriquez’s path from the streets of 1980s Mott Haven in the Bronx to the Jazz at Lincoln Center stage was sparked in part by an encounter as a teenager with the organization’s director, Wynton Marsalis.

“When I was a kid, the Jazzmobile used to come to St. Mary’s Park across the street from the Betances Houses, where I grew up,” Henriquez said, referring to the portable stage that brings jazz to New York neighborhoods.

“I remember Clark Terry and David Murray played, and also Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Larry Harlow.”

Henriquez said his father, who worked at a VA hospital, was given cassettes by his African American friends.

“One day he gave me a tape with Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez and Paul Chambers, and

I was freaking out,” he said. “I was like, man, this is killing.”

At first, Henriquez played the piano, and then switched to classical guitar, which landed him in the Juilliard School’s music advancement program while he attended LaGuardia performing arts high school. He switched to bass in his second year at Juilliard and won first place in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition for high school bands. At 19, he joined the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

“I started going to Wynton’s house religiously, and we exchanged information about Latin music, something we do to this day,” Henriquez said. “And vice versa. If I need help with classical music or something, he’ll help me out.”

As a session bassist, Henriquez has played with Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Natalie Merchant, the bachata group Aventura and Cuban jazz pianists Chucho Valdés and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. He has even toured with Nuyorican Soul, the dance-music project led by DJs Little Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez.

“We had DJ Jazzy Jeff spinning records onstage while we were playing Latin grooves,” he said.

Since 2010, when Henriquez served that year as musical director of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s cultural exchange with the Cuban Institute of Music, he has been integrally involved in the group’s Latin jazz programming. In the past decade, he’s been at the helm for a show featuring Rubén Blades singing jazz and salsa standards, a Latin spin on the work of Dizzy Gillespie, and last year’s scintillating “Monk con Clave” tribute to Thelonious Monk.

“I was telling them, look, there’s a bigger picture to this,” Henriquez said of his mes-

sage to the orchestra’s leadership. Musicians from earlier eras who are meaningful to the New York scene are “not getting credit,” or opportunities to perform. “We need to hire these people so that we could at least let them know that we didn’t forget about them.”

For this week’s Puente and Rodríguez tribute, Henriquez, who played with the Puente orchestra when he was in his late teens, enlisted longtime Puente collaborators like bongo player Johnny “Dandy” Rodríguez Jr. and Madera, and crafted a set list that combines both well-known and somewhat obscure tracks from the two luminaries.

The Puente centennial has also occasioned a tribute and art exhibit at Hostos Community College in the Bronx; a vinyl reissue on Craft Recordings of “Mambo Diablo,” Puente’s 1985 jazz album, which featured “Lush Life” and other jazz standards; and an event at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts on May 20.

Yet as much as the mambo era burns brightly in the spirit of Latin New York, Henriquez, whose 2021 solo album, “The South Bronx Story,” mined 1970s lore of widespread arson and street gang truces, continues to dig deeper into other neglected histories.

“I’m working on my next album and I realize, we’re right in the middle of this neighborhood that used to be called San Juan Hill,” he said, referring to the area that was demolished to build Lincoln Center. “And then I find out, we used to live here, with African Americans, and Benny Carter wrote a suite called Echoes of San Juan Hill, and Thelonious Monk used to play here. I came to realize how valuable this neighborhood was, and I found this out because I was yearning to find my connection to jazz.

“It’s the spirits of our ancestors, and they’re calling, you know?”

The bassist, composer and arranger Carlos Henriquez in New York, April 18, 2023. The longtime Jazz at Lincoln Center musician is leading a tribute to his mambo ancestors Tito Puente and Tito Rodríguez.

An Oscars night to remember

By JUDY GORDON-CONDE and JENNIFER CONDEPOWERS

Caribbean Cinemas rolled out the red carpet in Montehiedra for film enthusiasts, local partners and socialites for an exceptional experience to celebrate the films nominated for the 95th Oscars. Guests mixed and mingled with glasses of champagne and delicious treats surrounded by characters in lifelike costumes from the nominated film “Avatar: The Way of Water.” Everyone en-

SOCIAL

joyed the special event aimed to raise funds to benefit such exemplary organizations as Hogar Cuna San Cristóbal, CODERI, YMCA and La Fondita de Jesús.

The glamor of Hollywood was evident with all the special touches featured throughout the event, from the decorations to the glittering outfits. As part of the reception, guests also partook in a delectable buffet while enjoying the live Oscars viewing party. To end the night, attendees had the unique opportunity to enjoy all the films nominated for best picture, capping off a wonderful evening.

Alfonso Pando, Johanna Santiago

From left, Verónica Vélez, Eduardo Cobián, Mónica Rodríguez

Tita Ramírez, Guillermo Ramis

Silvet Benetti, Rafael Sein

Eduardo Cobián, Annie Galanes

Norman Santiago, Lina González, Marisol Navas, Georgie Rosario

Robert Carrady, Hannah Carrady Ileana Ortiz, Myrna Bermúdez, Julia Bermúdez

Alex Wiess, Hannah Carrady, Robert Carrady

Espedito Vázquez, Beatrice Santiago, Mabel Román, Ailene de Jesús

The San Juan Daily Star May

Puerto Rico

Secrets of a healthy breakfast

ed fats, such as bacon or sausage, which can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Your body needs protein to maintain your muscle mass, metabolism and physical strength (among other things), HarrisPincus said, but it can use only about 25 to 35 grams of protein per meal for those purposes. If you consume more protein in one sitting, your body will either use it as energy, store it as fat or excrete it.

So if you “skip breakfast or don’t eat protein at breakfast,” Harris-Pincus said, “you lose that opportunity because you can’t double up on protein later.”

Remember the ‘shortfall’ nutrients

Calcium, vitamin D, potassium and fiber are commonly called shortfall nutrients, Harris-Pincus said, because people in the United States often don’t get enough of them.

in Long Beach, California, is a proponent of expanding breakfast to include anything you might eat at any other time of day.

“I don’t love breakfast food, but I hate how my body feels if I don’t eat it,” she said.

Her go-to morning meal is often a version of the previous night’s dinner, which might be Chinese food or grilled chicken and vegetables.

“I’ve been known to eat whatever we had the night before and wrap it in a tortilla and make a burrito,” she said. “I’m still getting my food groups, even though it might not be what you traditionally eat for breakfast.”

Connolly-Schoonen said that taking your time and enjoying your food is important. Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full, she said.

By RACHEL RABKIN PEACHMAN

Each day, an estimated 10% to 20% of adults in the United States skip breakfast.

And that, nutrition experts say, may be a mistake.

Not only does a morning meal provide the fuel you need to start your day, but also numerous studies have found that eating breakfast regularly is associated with a range of health benefits.

These include reduced risks for obesity, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes; as well as improved short-term memory in adults, better school performance in children and better diet quality overall, said Kathryn Starr, a registered dietitian and associate professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine.

“All of our meals are important; I don’t think breakfast is the most important meal,” Starr said. But it “kick-starts the process for our body to function properly.”

To maintain healthy blood sugar, energy and fullness levels until your next meal, getting the right balance of protein, fiber and unsaturated fats at breakfast is important, said Lauren Harris-Pincus, a registered dietitian in New Jersey.

This roughly translates to at least 20 grams of protein, eight to 10 grams of fiber

and 10 to 15 grams of unsaturated fats, totaling about 300 to 350 calories, Harris-Pincus said.

But it’s important not to get hung up on the numbers, said Alice H. Lichtenstein, a professor of nutrition science and policy at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.

Your nutrient needs will depend on your weight, activity level, age and health conditions, Lichtenstein said.

More important, she said, is focusing on what you enjoy and makes you feel energized and sated. “So many times we’ve tried to give people formulas,” she said, “and if you look at dietary patterns and scores in the U.S., we’re not doing that well as far as diet quality goes.”

“So what’s the ideal breakfast?” Lichtenstein said. “It’s whatever makes your body work best.”

Pay extra attention to protein

One thing to prioritize when planning your morning meal, Harris-Pincus said, is protein. Many Americans consume more than enough protein throughout the day, she said, but they often don’t get enough at breakfast — and instead, opt for foods high in refined sugars or other carbohydrates, such as bagels, pastries or energy bars.

If they do prioritize protein, Starr said, they frequently choose foods high in saturat-

Over time, deficiencies in such nutrients can lead to problems including weak bones, poor gut health and high blood pressure.

But it so happens that many healthy breakfast foods are packed with those nutrients.

Most fortified cow’s milk contains calcium, vitamin D and potassium; most fortified cereals contain vitamin D (just be sure to choose those high in fiber and low in added sugars); bananas, citrus and many dried fruits have potassium; and oats are rich in fiber.

“So when you think about something like a bowl of whole grain cereal and milk with some fruit, that really makes a dent in those shortfall nutrients,” Harris-Pincus said.

Don’t be limited

You don’t have to confine yourself to standard breakfast fare to get a mix of nutrients in the morning, said Josephine Connolly-Schoonen, director of nutrition at Stony Brook Medicine.

“Any whole, plant-based food is going to have lots of phytonutrients,” she said, which are antioxidants that protect your cells from damage. These foods also contain fiber, which helps you stay full and supports gut health.

Coffee and tea can also provide some antioxidants and be part of a nutritious breakfast, Connolly-Schoonen said — just don’t overdo it on the sugar or cream.

Amanda Sauceda, a registered dietitian

And breakfast doesn’t have to be first thing in the morning. “If you wake up and go to an exercise class at 7:30 a.m., you might have a few bites of something if you’re hungry, go to the class and come back and finish breakfast,” Connolly-Schoonen said. “Whatever works for you.”

Get creative with recipes

Many breakfast ideas that nutritionists recommend are simple to prepare, nutritious and delicious. Here are some options:

— Overnight oats made with milk, chia seeds, diced fruit and dried fruit.

— Whey protein smoothie with kale or spinach, fruit and Greek yogurt.

— Whole-wheat toast with nut butter and sliced strawberries.

— Greek yogurt with slivered almonds or walnuts and berries.

— Whole-wheat breakfast burrito with a mix of eggs and egg whites, cheese, beans and salsa.

— Steel-cut oats or high-fiber cereal with milk, whey protein powder, almonds or walnuts and sliced melon.

— Whole-grain toast with cream cheese and lox.

— Tofu scramble with skim mozzarella cheese, veggies, avocado and whole wheat toast.

— Leftover grilled chicken, roasted potatoes and green beans.

— Roasted potato slices on a bed of spinach, topped with an egg.

— Leftover quinoa mixed with arugula, hummus and cucumber.

Several healthy breakfasts on a tabletop in New York, April 18, 2023. The ideal breakfast is the one that makes you feel your best, experts say, though there are some important nutrients to keep in mind.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO

DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU-

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE COAMO

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Parte Demandante Vs.

ALBERTO CARTAGENA

RODRÍGUEZ Y DIANA

IVELISSE PEDROGO

MATEO T/C/C DIANA

IVELLISE PEDROGO

MATEO T/C/C DIANA

I. PEDROGO MATEO

LA SUCESIÓN DE ELEUTERIO GARRIGA VÁZQUEZ T/C/C

ELEUTERIO GARRIGA

COMPUESTA POR GINA

GARRIGA, LEONEL

GARRIGA, FULANO Y MENGANO DE TAL, POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS;

MARITZA RIVERA

ALVARADO T/C/C

MARITZA GARRIGA POR SÍ Y EN LA CUOTA VIUDAL USUFRUCTUARIA

Parte Demandada

Civil Núm.: CO2022CV00205.

Sala: 1. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. AVISO DE PÚBLICA SUBASTA

El Alguacil que suscribe por la presente anuncia y hace constar que en cumplimiento de la Sentencia dictada el 12 de enero de 2023 y notificada el 17 de enero de 2023, la Orden de Ejecución de Sentencia del 13 de marzo de 2023 y el Mandamiento de Ejecución del 16 de marzo de 2023 en el caso de epígrafe, procederé a vender el día 14 DE JUNIO DE 2023,

A LAS 10:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en mi oficina, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Coamo, en 69 Avenida Maratón San Blas (al lado del Cuartel de la Policía) Coamo, Puerto Rico, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda de los Estados Unidos de América, cheque de gerente o giro postal, todo título, derecho o interés de la parte demandada sobre la siguiente propiedad: URBANA: Solar marcado con el Número tres (3) del Bloque dieciséis (16) en el plano de parcelación de la Urbanización Estancias de Mountain View, radicada en el Barrio Idelfonso de la municipa-

lidad de Coamo, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de 522.40 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE: con el Solar Número dos (2) del Bloque dieciséis (16) en una distancia de 38.17 metros lineales; por el SUR: con el Solar Número cuatro (4) del Bloque dieciséis (16) en una distancia de 42.67 metros lineales; por el ESTE: con faja de terreno dedicada al Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico en una distancia de 13.73 metros lineales; por el OESTE: con camino de uso público en una distancia de 12.88 metros lineales. Enclava una casa. La propiedad y la escritura de hipoteca constan inscritas al folio 194 del tomo 304 de Coamo, Finca 17773. Registro de la Propiedad de Barranquitas. Inscripción segunda (2da). Dirección Física: Urb. Estancias de Mountain View, Solar 3 Bloque 16, Coamo, PR 00769. Número de Catastro: 66-344100-477-81-000. El tipo mínimo para la primera subasta será de $79,373.00. De no haber adjudicación en la primera subasta se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA, el día 21 DE JUNIO DE 2023, A LAS 2:00 DE LA TARDE, en el mismo lugar, en la cual el tipo mínimo será de dos terceras partes del tipo mínimo fijado en la primera subasta, o sea, $52,915.33. De no haber adjudicación en la segunda subasta, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 28 DE JUNIO DE 2023, A LAS 2:00 DE LA TARDE, en el mismo lugar, en la cual el tipo mínimo será la mitad del precio pactado, o sea, $39,686.50. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el tribunal lo estima conveniente. Se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si ésta es mayor. Dicho remate se llevará a cabo para con su producto satisfacer a la demandante el importe de la Sentencia por la suma de $52,184.84 de principal, más intereses sobre dicha suma al 6% anual desde el 1 de marzo de 2022 hasta su completo pago, más $39.30 de recargos acumulados, los cuales continuarán en aumento hasta el saldo total de la deuda, más la cantidad estipulada de $7,937.30 para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados, así como cualquier otra suma que contenga el contrato del préstamo. Surge del Estudio de Título Registral que sobre esta propiedad pesa el siguiente gravamen posterior a la

hipoteca que por la presente se pretende ejecutar: a. Aviso de Demanda: Pleito seguido por Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Vs. Alberto Cartagena Rodríguez y Diana Ivelisse Pedrogo Mateo también conocida como Diana Ivellise Pedrogo Mateo y como Diana I. Pedrogo Mateo, La Sucesión de Eleuterio Garriga Vázquez también conocido como Eleuterio Garriga compuesta por Gina Garriga, Leonel Garriga, Fulano y Mengano de Tal, Maritza Rivera Alvarado también conocida como Maritza Garriga, ante el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Coamo, en el Caso Civil Número CO2022CV00205, sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca en la que se reclama el pago de hipoteca con un balance de $52,184.84 y otras cantidades, según Demanda de fecha 24 de junio de 2022. Anotada al Tomo Karibe de Coamo. Anotación A. Se notifica al acreedor posterior o a su sucesor o cesionario en derecho para que comparezca a proteger su derecho si así lo desea. Se les advierte a los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como los de Subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados, durante horas laborables, en el expediente del caso que obra en los archivos de la Secretaría del Tribunal, bajo el número de epígrafe y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general en Puerto Rico por espacio de dos semanas y por lo menos una vez por semana; y para su fijación en los sitios públicos requeridos por ley. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes; entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate y que la propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores tal como lo expresa la Ley Núm. 2102015. Y para el conocimiento de los demandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, EXPIDO para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspondientes, el presente Aviso de Pública Subasta en Coamo, Puerto Rico, hoy 28 de marzo de 2023.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE MAYAGÜEZ

LUNA COMMERCIAL II, LLC

Demandante v. WILFRIDO PIZARRO

COLON, MARIA VIRGEN

GONZALEZ NUÑEZ Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL COMPUESTA POR

AMBOS; JUDITH SERNA

CALDERON

Demandada

CIVIL NÚM. ISCI200801155

SOBRE: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. AVISO DE VENTA EN PÚBLICA SUBASTA A: WILFRIDO PIZARRO COLON, MARIA VIRGEN GONZALEZ NUÑEZ Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL COMPUESTA POR AMBOS; JUDITH SERNA CALDERON; Y AL PUBLICO EN GENERAL: El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior, Centro Judicial de Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, hago saber a la parte demandada, y al PUBLICO EN GENERAL: y a todos los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante, o de los acreedores de cargas o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca ejecutada y las personas interesadas en, o con derecho a exigir el cumplimiento de instrumentos negociables garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito ejecutado, siempre que surjan de la certificación registral, para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les convenga o satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados, quedando entonces subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. Que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el día 27 de marzo de 2023, por la Secretaria del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor la propiedad que ubica y se describe a continuación: Dirección de la Propiedad: PR-526, KM 9.8. TANAMA WARD, ADJUNTAS, PR 00601.

Rodolfo

Lara Martínez, Alguacil Placa #321, Alguacil Del Tribunal De Primera Instancia, Sala Superior De Coamo.

RÚSTICA: Predio de terreno marcado con el número ocho (8) en el plano de subdivisión del proyecto Tanamá y Portillo del término municipal de Adjun-

tas, Puerto Rico, compuesta de ocho punto seis ocho tres seis (8.6836) cuerdas, equivalentes a treinta y cuatro mil ciento veintinueve punto ocho seis ocho cuatro (34,129.8684) metros cuadrados y en lindes por el NORTE, con la finca número siete (7); al SUR, con la carretera estatal 526; al ESTE, con quebrada “A-4” que lo separa de la finca número nueve (9); al OESTE, con carretera estatal número 526. Consta inscrita al folio 85 del tomo 300 de Adjuntas, finca número 13,061, Registro de la Propiedad Sección de Utuado. La finca antes descrita afecta un gravamen preferente que se describe a continuación: ASAMBLEA LEGISLATIVA DEL SECRETARIO DE AGRICULTURA O JUNTA DE DIRECTORES.: En la cual parecen Condiciones Restrictivas, Impuestas bajo la Ley #107, del 3 de julio de 1974, según enmendada ente las cuales no se podrá subdividir esta finca y la misma se preservará para uso agrícola, excepto para fines de uso público o cuando medie autorización de la Asamblea Legislativa del Secretario de Agricultura o la Junta de Directores de la Administración de Terrenos, según consta de la escritura #23, otorgada en Ponce, el 20 de mayo de 2003, ante el Notario Jose Oswaldo Coll Diaz, inscrita al folio 85 vuelto del tomo 300 Adjuntas, finca #13,061, inscripción 2da. El producto de la subasta se destinará a satisfacer al demandante, hasta donde alcance, la SENTENCIA dictada a su favor, por la suma de $527,900.09 al 22 de mayo de 2020, la cual se desglosa en $193,749.29 de principal, $279.684.90 de intereses, los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el pago total de la deuda $450.00 por concepto de cargos por demora, la suma de $18,585.90 de cargos de preservación de propiedad, en adición a cualquier adelanto realizado conforme a los términos de la hipoteca, costas, gastos y $35,250.00 de honorarios de abogados, disponiéndose que si quedare algún remanente luego de pagarse las sumas antes mencionadas del mismo deberá ser depositado en la Secretaria del Tribunal para ser entregado a la parte interesada previa solicitud y orden del Tribunal. La venta de la referida propiedad se verificará libre de toda carga o gravamen que afecte la mencionada finca. La adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el acto mismo de la adjudicación, en efectivo (moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América), giro postal

o cheque certificado a nombre del alguacil del Tribunal. LA PRIMERA SUBASTA se llevará a efecto el día 6 DE JULIO DE 2023 A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina del referido Alguacil, localizada en el Centro Judicial de Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Que el precio mínimo fijado para la PRIMERA SUBASTA es de $138,900.00. Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una SEGUNDA SUBASTA, la misma se llevará a efecto el día 13 DE JULIO DE 2023 A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la SEGUNDA SUBASTA será de $92,600.00, equivalentes a dos terceras (2/3) partes del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una TERCERA SUBASTA la misma se llevará a efecto el día 20 DE JULIO DE 2023 A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la TERCERA SUBASTA será de $69,450.00, equivalentes a la mitad (1/2) del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el Tribunal lo estima conveniente; se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si esta es mayor, todo ello a tenor con lo dispone el Articulo 104 de la Ley Núm. 210 del 8 de diciembre de 2015 conocida como “Ley del Registro de la Propiedad Inmueble del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico”. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquiere libre de toda carga y gravamen que afecte la mencionada finca según el Artículo 102, inciso 6. Una vez confirmada la venta judicial por el Honorable Tribunal, se procederá a otorgar la correspondiente escritura de venta judicial y se pondrá al comprador en posesión física del inmueble de conformidad con las disposiciones de Ley. Para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda aquella persona o personas que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, y para conocimiento de todos los licitadores y el público en general, el presente Edicto se publicará por espacio de dos (2) semanas consecutivas, con un intervalo de por lo menos siete días entre ambas publicaciones, en un diario de circulación general en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico

y se fijará además en tres (3) lugares públicos del Municipio en que ha de celebrarse dicha venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía. Se les informa, por último, que: a. Que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la secretaría del tribunal durante las horas laborables. b. Que se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes. Se entenderá, que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. EXPIDO, el presente EDICTO, en Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, hoy día 5 de abril de 2023. José M. Crespo Nazario, Alguacil Confidencial.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE CAGUAS

ORIENTAL BANK

Parte Demandante V. ANIBAL ROMÁN GUADALUPE Y LA SUCESIÓN DE ANGELES

RODRIGUEZ QUIÑONES

COMPUESTA POR

ANGELES ZOARO ROMÁN RODRIGUEZ, OSVALDO ROMÁN

RODRIGUEZ, FULANO Y FULANA DE TAL

Parte Demandada

Civil Núm.: CG2022CV00463. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO, EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE P.R., SS. AVISO DE PÚBLICA SUBASTA. El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de CAGUAS, hago saber a la parte demandada, ANIBAL ROMÁN GUADALUPE y la SUCESIÓN DE ANGELES RODRIGUEZ

QUIÑONES compuesta por ANGELES ZOARO ROMÁN RODRIGUEZ, OSVALDO ROMÁN RODRIGUEZ, FULANO Y FULANA DE TAL y al PÚBLICO EN GENERAL; que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el 18 de enero de 2023, por la Secretaría del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor pagadero en efectivo, cheque de gerente o giro postal, a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal, la siguiente propiedad

con dirección física: SR 181 KM 1.0 Barrio Celada, Gurabo PR 00778 y que se describe como sigue: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número 3 en el plano de inscripción radicado en el Barrio Hato Nuevo de Gurabo, con una cabida superficial de 401.63 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, en dos alineaciones continuas de 4.7 metros y 7.73 metros, con el solar 2 que es una servidumbre de paso, por el SUR, en 16.58 metros, con la finca principal; por el ESTE, en 32.59 metros con la finca principal; y por el OESTE en 27.74 metros con la finca principal. Beneficiada como predio dominante con una servidumbre de paso de cinco metros de ancho sobre el solar numero 2 del plano e inscripción como predio sirviente. Finca 5634 inscrito al folio 1 del tomo 150 de Gurabo, Registro de la Propiedad de Caguas Sección Segunda. La finca antes descrita se encuentra afecta a los siguientes gravámenes: (i) HIPOTECA en garantía de pagaré a favor de Doral Mortgage LLC o a su orden por la suma principal de $55,025.00 con intereses a razón del 5.25% anual y vencimiento el 1 de julio del 2039. Constituida por la Escritura #329 otorgada en San Juan el 11 de junio del 2009 ante la notario Fabiola Ansotegui Blanc. Inscrita el 13 de enero del 2010 al folio 85 del Tomo 445 de Gurabo, finca 5634, inscripción 4ª. La hipoteca objeto de esta ejecución es la que ha quedado descrita en el inciso (i). Será celebrada la subasta para con el importe de la misma satisfacer la sentencia dictada el 15 de noviembre de 2022, mediante la cual se condenó a la parte demandada pagar a la parte demandante la cantidad ascendiente a $42,283.12 de principal, más $1,294.93 a intereses acumulados que continuarán acumulándose al 5.25% anual hasta el saldo total de la deuda, más $152.33 a cargos por demora y otros cargos, mas $63.65 de reserva de escrow, más costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado, según pactado, más cualquier otro desembolso que haya efectuado o efectúe la parte demandante durante la tramitación de este caso para otros adelantos de conformidad con el Contrato Hipotecario. La PRIMERA SUBASTA será celebrada el 30 DE MAYO DE 2023, A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de CAGUAS, Puerto Rico. Servirá de tipo mínimo para la misma, la cantidad de $55,025.00 sin admitirse oferta inferior. De no haber remate ni adjudicación, celebraré SEGUNDA SUBAS-

Instancia de Arecibo, por el tipo mínimo de $85,619.09. De declararse desierta dicha subasta se celebrará una SEGUNDA

SUBASTA el día 12 DE JUNIO

DE 2023 A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA en el mismo lugar antes mencionado. El precio para la segunda subasta lo será 2/3 partes del precio mínimo de la primera, o sea, $57,079.39. De declararse desierta dicha segunda subasta, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 20 DE JUNIO DE 2023 A

LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA en el mismo lugar antes mencionado. El precio para la tercera subasta lo será 1/2 del precio mínimo de la primera, o sea, $42,809.55. Y PARA QUE ASÍ

CONSTE, y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general y por un término de catorce (14) días en los sitios públicos conforme a la ley, expido la presente bajo mi firma y sello de este tribunal, hoy 24 de abril de 2023 en Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Ángel Torres Peña, Alguacil #770. Ángel De Jesús Gómez Pérez, Alguacil.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU-

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN

JUNTA ADMINISTRATIVA DEL FONDO PARA EL FOMENTO DE LA INDUSTRIA DE LA CARNE DE RES

Demandante Vs. EMPRESA

ADMINISTRADORA, LLC;

MACELO MODERNO

LA MUDA T/C/C

MACELO LA MUDA (EN ADELANTE, “MACELO LA MUDA”), SOCIEDAD CIVIL COMPUESTA

POR ROBERTO PALOU

BOSCH, AMARILYS DE JESÚS GONZÁLEZ, Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES QUE

AMBOS COMPONEN;

JORGE MORALES CRUZ Y JULIA NAVARRO Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES QUE

AMBOS COMPONEN; LA SUCESIÓN DE JORGE MORALES CRUZ

COMPUESTA POR JULIA

NAVARRO, ROBERTO MORALES NAVARRO, JORGE MORALES

NAVARRO, JAVIER

O’FARRILL MORALES, LIMARIE O’FARRILL

MORALES Y DAGMARIE

O’FARRILL MORALES

Demandados

Civil Núm.: KAC2017-0092.

Sala: 802. Sobre: DAÑOS, LEY

238 DE 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1996. AVISO Y EDICTO DE VENTA EN PÚBLICA SUBASTA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO UBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: SUCESIÓN DE JORGE MORALES CRUZ, COMPUESTA POR JULIA

NAVARRO, ROBERTO MORALES NAVARRO, JORGE MORALES NAVARRO, JAVIER

O’FARRIIL MORALES, LIMARIE O’FARRILL MORALES Y DAGMARIE

O’FARRILL MORALES, JUAN DEL PUEBLO Y

JUANA DEL CAMPO, NOMBRES FICTICIOS DE CUALQUIER OTRO

HEREDERO O PERSONA CON INTERÉS, FÍSICA:

MACELO MODERNO LA MUDA T/C/C

MACELO LA MUDA

CARR. 836, KM. 0.1, BO

MAMEY, GUAYNABO; PUERTO RICO, 00969.

POSTAL: EMPRESA

ADMINISTRADORA, LLC, PMB 716 HC 01 BOX 29030, CAGUAS, PUERTO RICO 00725-8900.

JAVIER O’FARRILL Y OTROS MIEMBROS DE LA SUCESIÓN CARR. 836, KM. 0.1, BO MAMEY GUAYNABO., PUERTO RICO, 00969.

A: PÚBLICO EN GENERAL:

El Alguacil que suscribe. anuncia y hace constar: A: Que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento que me ha sido dirigido por la Secretaría del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Puerto Rico, Sala de San Juan, en el caso de epígrafe, venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor, quien pagará el importe de su oferta en efectivo, cheque certificado, o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal, todo derecho, título o interés que tenga la Parte Demandada en el bien inmueble que se describe a continuación: RÚSTICA: Parcela de terreno en el Barrio Mamey del término municipal de Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, con una cabida de 11.98299 cuerdas, equivalentes a 47,097.9534 metros cuadrados. Colinda por el Norte con un camino vecinal de 10.00 metros de. ancho que la separa de terrenos Lecumberri Otero; por el Sur, con una quebrada que la separa de terrenos de la Sucesión de Zenón Díaz; por el Este, con la Carretera Estatal #836 y el Río Guaynabo; y por el Oeste, con el remanente de la finca principal y además en la actualidad colinda con la

carretera municipal que conduce de Guaynabo al Barrio Mamey y viceversa. Contiene una estructura que se utiliza como macelo. Inscrita al folio 60 del Tomo 184, finca 12706 de Guaynabo, Registro de la Propiedad de Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. B. La venta en pública subasta se llevará a cabo el día 25 DE MAYO DE 2023, A LAS 10:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en mi oficina, localizada en Centro Judicial de San Juan, Octavo (8vo.) Piso, Oficinal del Alguacil Regional, Avenida Muñoz Rivera Esq. Coll y Toste Parada 37, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00919, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda de los Estados Unidos de América. C. Que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado están de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante las horas laborables bajo el epígrafe de este caso. D. Que se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas. y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes, entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. E. Que la Propiedad se encuentra afecta al siguiente gravamen anterior o posterior: Orden Judicial de Embargo de 6 de diciembre de 2021, dictada por la honorable Elisa A. Fumero Pérez en el caso Junta Administrativa FFICR v. Empresa Administradora, LLC y Otros, civil KAC20170092, presentada al Registro de la Propiedad e inscrita el 22 de febrero de 2022, finca 12706, Anotación B, Asiento 2021-163267-GU01, Registro de la Propiedad de Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, para satisfacer una sentencia que, a la fecha de la Orden de Embargo, era de $177,936.27 y que, siendo una deuda de acumulación continua y recurrente, deberá actualizarse al momento de la venta, incluyendo el cómputo de sus intereses. F. La subasta se llevará a cabo para satisfacer a la parte demandante el importe de la sentencia que ha obtenido ascendente a la suma de $177,936.27, principal adeudado hasta 31 de marzo de 2021, según la sentencia dictada. La obligación de pago de la deuda es continua y recurrente y acumula todos los meses una cantidad nueva adicional. Por tanto, el valor a ejecutar “se ajustará para añadir las cantidades correspondientes a todas las semanas posteriores al 31 de marzo de 2021, más los intereses acumulados sobre el principal. Además, se incluirán las costas, honorarios de abo-

gado y costas en ejecución. Y para conocimiento de la parte demandada, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, expido el presente Edicto de Subasta para su publicación según queda dicho. Librado en San Juan, Puerto Rico, a 17 de abril de 2023. Pedro Hieye González, Alguacil. ****

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante Vs. SUCESION MIRANDA, HEREDERAS DE CARLOS SANTOS COMPUESTA CONOCIDAS POR AIDA SUS LUZ SANTOS MIRANDA Y CECILIA SANTOS MIRANDA; FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANA DE TAL COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y/O PARTES CON INTERES EN LA SUCESION

Demandado (a)

Civil Núm.: SJ2022CV09220. Sala: 508. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: CECILIA SANTOS MIRANDA COMO HEREDERA CONOCIDA DE LA SUCESIÓN DE CARLOS SANTOS MIRANDA; FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANA DE TAL COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y/O TERCEROS CON INTERÉS DE DICHA SUCESIÓN.

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 28 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los diez (10) días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación

Friday, May 5, 2023

que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 28 de abril de 2023. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 28 de abril de 2023. Griselda Rodríguez Collado, Secretaria Regional. Martha Almodovar Cabrera, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. SUCESION DE JOSE ANTONIO REYES

MOLINA T/C/C JOSE

REYES MOLINA, SOBRE: COMPUESTA POR SU HEREDERA CONOCIDA GLORIA SANTIAGO

MALDONADO, POR SI; SUCESIÓN DE JOSE REYES SANTIAGO COMPUESTA POR SU

HEREDERA CONOCIDA

ELBA MALDONADO

MARQUES T/C/C ELBA

IVELISSE MALDONADO

MARQUES, POR SI; FULANO DE TAL

Y SUTANA DE TAL

COMO HEREDEROS

DESCONOCIDOS Y/O PARTES CON INTERÉS EN DICHAS SUCESIONES

Demandado(a)

Civil: BY2022CV05431. Salón: 703. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: SUCESION DE JOSE

ANTONIO REYES MOLINA T/C/C JOSE REYES

MOLINA, COMPUESTA POR SU HEREDERA CONOCIDA GLORIA SANTIAGO MALDONADO, POR SI; SUCESIÓN DE JOSE REYES SANTIAGO COMPUESTA POR SU HEREDERA CONOCIDA ELBA MALDONADO MARQUES T/C/C ELBA IVELISSE MALDONADO MARQUES, POR SI; FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANA DE TAL COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y/O PARTES CON INTERÉS EN DICHAS SUCESIONES.

(Nombre de las partes a las qua se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 17 de abril de 2023, este

Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 28 de abril de 2023. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 28 de abril de 2023. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. Lureimy Alicea González, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA DE HUMACAO PALMAS DEL MAR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Parte Demandante vs. LUIS F. OLMEDO

MORALES Y JULIA

FONSECA RIVERA Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR

AMBOS

Parte Demandada

CIVIL NUM: HU2022CV01745

SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU.

EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE P.R. SS.

A: LUIS F. OLMEDO MORALES Y JULIA

FONSECA RIVERA Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR

AMBOS

POR LA PRESENTE, se le emplaza y requiere para que notifique a:

GONZÁLEZ & MORALES LAW OFFICES, LLC

PO BOX 10242

HUMACAO, PR 00792

TELÉFONO: (787) 852-4422

FACSÍMIL: (787) 285-4425

Email: jrg@gonzalezmorales.com abogados de la parte demandante, cuya dirección es la que deja indicada, con copia de su Contestación a la Demanda, copia de la cual le es servida en este caso, dentro de los TREINTA (30) días de haber

sido diligenciado este Emplazamiento, excluyéndose el día del diligenciamiento. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del tribunal. Debe saber que en caso de no hacerlo así podrá dictarse Sentencia en Rebeldía en contra suya, concediendo el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el Sello del Tribunal, hoy día 25 de ABRIL de 2023. Ivelisse C. Fonseca Rodríguez, Secretaria. Michelle Guevara De León, Sub-Secretaria.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN

ORIENTAL BANK COMO AGENTE DE SERVICIO DE THE MONEY HOUSE, INC.

Demandante Vs. VICTOR IVAN TORRES ALVAREZ LA SUCESION DE RUBEN SANCHEZ

FIGUEROA COMPUESTA POR FULANO Y FULANA DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE LA SUCESION; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIONES DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (CRIM); ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA

Demandado(a)

CIVIL NUM: SJ2023CV00457 SALA: 508 SOBRE: EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA - IN REM (VIA ORDINARIA). NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: VICTOR IVAN TORRES ALVAREZ LA SUCESION DE RUBEN SANCHEZ FIGUEROA COMPUESTA POR FULANO Y FULANA DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE LA SUCESION; EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 2 de de mayo de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de

circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los diez (10) días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha del 2 de mayo de 2023. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 2 de mayo de 2023. Griselda Rodriguez Collado, Secretaria Regional. Martha Almodovar Cabrera, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE FAJARDO

TE COMPRO TU CASA CASH LLC, REPRESENTADA POR SU PRESIDENTE, HÉCTOR VIDAL VEGA RODRÍGUEZ

Parte Peticionaria EXPARTE

RG2023CV00159. obre: EXPEDIENTE DE DOMINIO. Sala: 305. EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS E.E.U.U., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PR, SS.

A: LAS PERSONAS IGNORADAS Y DESCONOCIDAS A QUIENES PUDIERA AFECTAR LA INSCRIPCIÓN DEL DOMINIO A FAVOR DE LA PARTE PETICIONARIA EN EL REGISTRO DE LA PROPIEDAD DE LA FINCA QUE MÁS ADELANTE SE DESCRIBIRÁ Y A TODA PERSONA EN GENERAL QUE CON DERECHO PARA ELLO DESEE OPONERSE A ESTE EXPEDIENTE. POR LA PRESENTE se les notifica para que comparezcan, si lo creyeren pertinente, ante este Honorable Tribunal dentro de los veinte (20) días contados a partir de la última publicación de este edicto a exponer lo que a sus derechos convenga en el expediente promovido por la parte peticionaria para adquirir su dominio sobre la finca que se describe más adelante. Usted deberá presentar su posición a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 28 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 1 de mayo de 2023. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 1 de mayo de 2023. F/Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. F/Vivian J. Sanabria, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL

GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS-

TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN MINIMAX APPLIANCES, INC.

Demandante Vs FULANO DE TAL; MENGANO DE TAL; BANCO POPULAR DE PR

Demandado (A)

CIVIL NÚM.: SJ2022CV03640

SALA: (505) SOBRE: CANCELACIÓN O RESTITUCIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: FULANO DE TAL, MENGANO DE TAL

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 28 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días con-

tados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 1 de mayo de 2023. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 1 de mayo de 2023. Griselda Rodríguez Collado, Secretaria Regional. F/E. Diomarys Alcántara Félix, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA DE SAN JUAN RAMONA FRANCISCA

GARCÍA LÓPEZ

Demandante Vs. ORLANDO PIZARRO COLÓN

Demandado

Civil Número: SJ2023RF00607.

Sobre: DIVORCIO (RUPTURA IRREPARABLE). EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE NORTEAMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU., ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: SR. ORLANDO PIZARRO COLÓN. 510 S MILI ROAD, ABSECON, NJ 08201.

Se le notifica a usted que se ha radicado en esta Secretaría la solicitud del epígrafe. Se le emplaza y requiere que radique en esta Secretaría el original de la contestación a la Demanda de Divorcio y que notifique con copia de dicha contestación a la Lcda. María Pagán Hernández, P.O. Box 21411, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00928-1411, teléfono 787-282-6734, abogada de la parte demandante, dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto. Si dejare de hacerlo, podrá dictarse contra usted sentencia en rebeldía concediéndole el remedio solicitado en la demanda. EXPEDIDO bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal Superior de Puerto Rico, Sala de San Juan, Puerto Rico, a 28 de abril de 2023. Griselda Rodríguez

Collado, Secretaria Regional.

Raquel Burgos Millán, Secretaria De Servicios A Sala.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU-

NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAROLINA ANDRES RIVERA SANCHEZ Y OTROS

Demandante V.

DORAL MORTGAGE CORP Y OTROS

Demandado(a)

Civil: CN2023CV00092. Sala:

409. Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO.

NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: DORAL MORTGAGE CORP; JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO POSIBLES TENEDORES DEL PAGARE.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 27 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 1 de mayo de 2023. En CAROLINA, Puerto Rico, el 1 de mayo de 2023. Lcda. Marilyn Aponte Rodríguez, Secretaria. Maricruz Aponte Alicea, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMON ORIENTAL BANK

Demandante V. NESTOR CABRERA MATOS, Y LA SUCESION DE MARITZA ARCHILLA ROBLES

Demandado(a)

Civil: BY2022CV04102 SALA

504 Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO. EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: NESTOR CABRERA MATOS Y LA SUCESION DE MARITZA ARCHILLA ROBLES COMPUESTA POR GABRIEL COSME ARCHILLA, JOY COSME ARCHILLA, MARIA GISELA COSME ARCHILLA, DAVID ROBLES ARCHILLA, FULANO Y FULANA DE TAL

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 27 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 1 de mayo de 2023. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 1 de mayo de 2023. F/Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. F/Vivian J. Sanabria, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL

GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMON

FIRST BANK PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. JOSE GERARDO HERNANDEZ ALVARADO; MILLINETTE IRIZARRY HERNANDEZ

Demandado(a)

CIVIL: BY2021CV05200 SALA

501 SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: JOSE GERARDO HERNANDEZ ALVARADO Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS (Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 26 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte

en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 3 de mayo de 2023. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 3 de mayo de 2023. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria Regional. F/Nereida Quiles Santana, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN WILMINGTON SAVINGS

FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF FINANCE OF AMERICA

STRUCTURED SECURITIES

ACQUISITION TRUST

2018-HB1

Demandante Vs. SUCESIÓN DE AIDA

MILAGROS RODRIGUEZ

LIMERIS, T/C/C AIDA

M. RODRIGUEZ

LIMERIS, T/C/C AIDA

LIMERIS RODRIGUEZ, COMPUESTA POR

FULANO DE TAL Y

SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIONES MUNICIPALES; Y A LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

Demandados

Civil Núm.: GB2019CV00988. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. EDICTO DE SUBASTA.

AL: PÚBLICO EN GENERAL.

A: SUCESIÓN DE AIDA

MILAGROS RODRIGUEZ LIMERIS, T/C/C AIDA M. RODRIGUEZ LIMERIS, T/C/C AIDA LIMERIS RODRIGUEZ, COMPUESTA POR FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIONES MUNICIPALES; Y A LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA.

Yo, PEDRO HIEYE GONZÁLEZ, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de San Juan, a los demandados, acreedores y al público en general con interés sobre la propiedad que más adelante se describe, y al público en general, por la presente CERTIFICO, ANUNCIO y HAGO CONSTAR: Que el día 6 DE JUNIO DE 2023, A LAS 10:00 DE LA MAÑANA en mi oficina, sita en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico, procederé a vender en Pública Subasta, al mejor postor, la propiedad inmueble que más adelante se describe y cuya venta en pública subasta se ordenó por la vía ordinaria mediante Sentencia dictada en el caso de epígrafe, la cual se notificó y archivó en autos el día 3 de noviembre de 2021. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado, estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría durante horas laborables. Que en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación en la primera subasta a celebrarse, se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA para la venta de la susodicha propiedad, el día 13 DE JUNIO DE 2023, A LAS 10:00 DE LA MAÑANA; y en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 21 DE JUNIO DE 2023, A LAS 10:00 DE LA MAÑANA en mi oficina sita en el lugar antes indicado. Que en cumplimiento de un Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia que ha sido liberado por la Secretaría del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de San Juan, en el caso de epígrafe con fecha de 22 de diciembre de 2021, procederé a vender en pública subasta y al mejor postor, todo derecho, título e interés que tenga la parte demandada de epígrafe en el inmueble de su propiedad ubicado en: Lot 109 Elemy St. Alturas de Santa Maria Dev., San Juan, Puerto Rico 00969, y que se describe a continuación: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número diez y ocho del Bloque D del plano de inscripción de la Urbanización Alturas de Santa María, situada en el Barrio Monacillos de Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de trescientos treinta y ocho metros cuadrados, en lindes por el NORTE, en veintiséis metros con el solar número diez y siete; por el SUR, en veintiséis metros con el solar número diez y nueve; por el ESTE, en trece metros con el solar número once; y por el OESTE, en trece metros con la Calle Santa María. En este solar enclava una casa residencial para una familia. Finca número 21,521; inscrita al folio 15 del tomo 657 de Monacillos. Registro de la Propiedad de

Puerto Rico, Sección III de San Juan. La subasta se llevará a cabo para satisfacer, hasta donde alcance, el importe de las cantidades adeudadas a la parte demandante conforme a la sentencia dictada a su favor, a saber: $423,029.58, más la suma estipulada para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados equivalente al 10% de la suma principal original pactada, estipulada para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado; más recargos acumulados hasta la fecha en que se pague la deuda; más cualquiera suma de dinero por concepto de contribuciones, primas de seguro hipotecario y riesgo, así como cualesquiera otras sumas pactadas en la escritura de hipoteca, todas cuyas sumas están líquidas y exigibles. La hipoteca a ejecutarse en el caso de epígrafe fue constituida mediante la escritura número 144 otorgada el día 26 de abril de 2011, San Juan, Puerto Rico, ante el Notario Público Francisco J. Biaggi Landron y consta inscrita a la vuelta del folio 117 del tomo 1019 de Monacillos, finca número 21521, Registro de la Propiedad de Monacillos, Sección III de San Juan. Por la presente se notifica a los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante o acreedores de cargos o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca del actor y a los dueños, poseedores, tenedores de o interesados en títulos transmisibles por endoso o al portador garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito del actor que se celebrarán las subastas en las fechas, horas y sitios señalados para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les conviniere o se les invita a satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, otros cargos y las costas y honorarios de abogado asegurados quedando subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. Entiéndase: Hipoteca en garantía de un pagaré a favor del Secretario de la Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano, o a su orden, por la suma principal de $498,000.00, con intereses al 5.060% anual, vencedero el día 9 de octubre de 2093, constituida mediante la escritura número 145, otorgada en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el día 26 de abril de 2011, ante el notario Francisco J. Biaggi Landron, e inscrita a la vuelta del folio 118 del tomo 1019 de Monacillos, finca número 21,521, inscripción 17va. Que la cantidad mínima de licitación en la primera subasta del inmueble antes descrito será la suma de $498,000.00 según se establece en la escritura de hipoteca antes relacionada. En caso de que el inmueble a ser subasta-

do no fuera adjudicado en su primera subasta se ordena la celebración de una segunda subasta de dicho inmueble, en la cual, la cantidad mínima será una equivalente a 2/3 parte de aquella, o sea la suma de $332,000.00; desierta también la segunda subasta de dicho inmueble, se ordena la celebración de una tercera subasta en la cual, la cantidad mínima será la mitad del precio pactado para la primera subasta, es decir la suma de $249,000.00. La propiedad se adjudicará al mejor postor, quien deberá satisfacer el importe de su oferta en moneda legal y corriente de los Estados Unidos de América en el momento de la adjudicación, entiéndase efectivo, giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, y que las cargas y gravámenes preferentes, si los hubiese, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes, entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. La propiedad no está sujeta a gravámenes anteriores y/o preferentes según surge de las constancias del Registro de la Propiedad en un estudio de título efectuado a la finca antes descrita. Una vez efectuada la venta de dicha propiedad, el Alguacil procederá a otorgar la escritura de traspaso al licitador victorioso en subasta, quien podrá ser la parte demandante, cuya oferta podrá aplicarse a la extinción parcial o total de la obligación reconocida por la sentencia dictada en este caso. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Si el producto de la venta fuere insuficiente para satisfacer la cantidad reclamada, se procederá a la ejecución de la sentencia en contra de la parte demandada por el remanente de las sumas no satisfechas, mediante embargo y venta en ejecución de cualesquiera otros bienes propiedad de la parte demandada en cantidad suficiente para dejar cubierta y totalmente satisfecha a la parte demandante cualquier deficiencia o parte insoluta de la sentencia dictada a su favor según dispuesto en la sentencia dictada en este caso. Se dispone, conforme con la sentencia dictada en este caso que, una vez efectuada la subasta y vendido el bien inmueble, los adjudicatarios sean puestos en posesión del mismo dentro del término de veinte (20) días por el Alguacil de este Honorable Tribunal y los actuales poseedores lanzados del referido inmueble. De ser ello necesario, el Alguacil podrá diligenciar el Acta de Subasta que se expida en horas laborales, de día, los 5 días de la semana

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

y podrá romper cualquier cerradura o candado que dé acceso al inmueble objeto de este desalojo. Y para la concurrencia de licitadores y para el público en general, se publicará este Edicto de acuerdo con la ley, mediante edicto, en un periódico de circulación general en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, una vez por semana, por espacio de dos (2) semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, y para su fijación en tres (3) lugares públicos del municipio en que ha de celebrarse la venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía, y se le notificará además a la parte demandada vía correo certificado con acuse de recibo a la última dirección conocida. EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, expido el presente Edicto de Subasta para conocimiento y comparecencia de los licitadores, bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, en San Juan, Puerto Rico, a 1 de mayo de 2023. Pedro Hieye González, Alguacil, Tribunal De Primera Instancia, Sala De San Juan.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL

GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMON BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. SUCESION DE JOSE

LUIS BAEZ LOPEZ, COMPUESTA POR

SU HIJA OLGA BAEZ MATIAS; FULANO DE TAL Y ZUTANO DE TAL, COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS CON POSIBLE INTERÉS; CENTRO DE RECAUDACION DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (CRIM)

Demandado(a)

CIVIL: BY2023CV00862 702

SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO

EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA

POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: OLGA BAEZ MATIAS, COMO MIEMBRO DE LA SUCESION DE JOSE LUIS

BAEZ LOPEZ; FULANO DE TAL Y ZUTANO DE TAL, COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESION DE JOSE LUIS

BAEZ LOPEZ.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 28 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este

caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 1 de mayo de 2023. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 1 de mayo de 2023. Lcda. Laura

I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. Mircienid González, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL

GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTAN-

CIA SALA SUPERIOR MUNICIPAL DE BAYAMON ASOCIACIÓN DE RESIDENTE DE LOS MONTES, INC.

Demandante V. PABLO JOSÉ

CARTAGENA

ANTONGIORGI, IVELESE

FELICIANO FORTIS, AMBOS POR SÍ Y EN REPRESENTACIÓN DE LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

Demandado(a)

CIVIL: BY2022CV06091 SALA

505 SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO (R .6 0). NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: PABLO JOSE

CARTAGENA

ANTORGIORGI IVELESE

FELICIANO FORTIS

AMBOS POR SÍ Y EN REPRESENTACIÓN DE LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR

AMBOS.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 25 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación

se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 1 de mayo de 2023. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 1 de mayo de 2023. Lcda. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. Militza Mercado Rivera, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS-

TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE VEGA BAJA

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante v.

LA SUCESIÓN DE CARMELO MEDINA

PAGÁN T/C/C

CARMELO MEDINA

COMPUESTA POR SU VIUDA FLORENTINA

TORRES PEÑA y MENGANO DE TAL, POSIBLE HEREDERO DESCONOCIDO

Demandado(a)

CIVIL: VB2022CV00549 SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA

POR LA VIA ORDINARIA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: FLORENTINA TORRES PEÑA como heredera de CARMELO MEDINA PAGAN t/c/c

CARMELO MEDINA, a sus direcciones conocidas en: 909 AMBOY AVE. PEARTH AMBOY NJ 08861, COND. PATIO (VILLA EL NARANJAL), 95 CALLE JOSE JULIAN

AGOSTA APT. C2, VEGA BAJA, PR 00693, URB. SAN VICENTE, 35 CALLE 9, VEGA BAJA, PR 00693-3429, URB. JARDINES DE VEGA BAJA, 270 JARDÍN DEL CARIBE, VEGA BAJA, PR 00693-3975 MENGANO DE TAL, posible heredero desconocido de CARMELO MEDINA

PAGAN T/C/C CARMELO

MEDINA, con identidad y dirección desconocida (Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto).

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 28 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 1 de mayo de 2023. En Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, el 1 de mayo de 2023. Lcda. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. Maritza Rosario Rosario, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE VEGA BAJA

FIRST BANK PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. LITTON LOAN SERVICING LP; PREFERRE MORTGAGE CORPORATION; JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO POSIBLES TENEDORES CON INTERÉS

Demandado(a)

CIVIL: VB2023CV00022 SOBRE: CANCELACION DE PAGARE HIPOTECARIO EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: LITTON LOAN SERVICING LP - 250 E

JOHN CARPENTER FWY IRVING TEXAS 75062

JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 27 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un

periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 2 de mayo de 2023. Lcda. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. Maritza Rosario Rosario, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE AGUADILLA

LEGACY MORTGAGE

ASSET TRUST 2019-PR1

Demandante V. CITIFINANCIAL SERVICES PR; JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE como posibles tenedores desconocidos Demandado(a)

CIVIL: AG2023CV00191 Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: CITIFINANCIAL SERVICES PR; US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 451

7 HT STREET S.W. WASHINGTON, DC. 20410 JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE como posibles tenedores desconocidos.

P/C LCDA MARJALIISA

COLÓN VILLANUEVA PO. BOX 7970 PONCE PR. 00732 (Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 1 de mayo de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sen-

tencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 1 de mayo de 2023. En Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, el 1 de mayo de 2023. Sarahí Reyes Pérez, Secretaria. Zuheily González Avilés. Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMON ASOCIACIÓN DE RESIDENTES RIO HONDO II VALLE VERDE I Y II, INC.

Demandante YASHIRA ORTÍZ RODRÍGUEZ, JOSÉ JUSTINO GONZÁLEZ QUIJANO, AMBOS POR SÍ Y EN REPRESENTACIÓN DE LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

Demandado(a)

CIVIL: BY2022CV06193 SALA

505 SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO (R.60) NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: YASHIRA ORTÍZ RODRÍGUEZ, JOSÉ JUSTINO GONZÁLEZ QUIJANO, Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS (Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 1 de mayo de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notifica-

ción que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 2 de mayo de 2023. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 2 de mayo de 2023. Lcda. Laura

I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. Militza Mercado Rivera, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE BAYAMÓN

LUNA RESIDENTIAL III, LLC

Parte Demandante Vs. CARLOS IVAN CHINEA

DIAZ T/C/C CARLOS

I. CHINEA DIAZ Y CARLOS CHINEA

DIAZ, SU ESPOSA

CARMEN MILAGROS

PEREZ RIVERA T/C/C

CARMEN M. PEREZ

RIVERA Y CARMEN

PEREZ RIVERA Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR

AMBOS

Parte Demandada

Caso Civil Núm.: BY2023CV01654. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA - IN REM. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: CARLOS IVÁN

CHINEA T/C/C CARLOS

I. CHINEA DIAZ Y CARLOS CHINEA DIAZ, CARMEN MILAGROS

PÉREZ RIVERA T/C/C

CARMEN M. PEREZ

RIVERA Y CARMEN

PEREZ RIVERA Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR

ELLOS.

POR LA PRESENTE se les emplaza y requiere para que conteste la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto. Usted deberá radicar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: http://unired.ramajudicial.pr/ sumac/, salvo que se presente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá radicar el original de su contestación ante el Tribunal correspondiente y notifique con copia a los abogados de la parte demandante, Lcda.

Marjaliisa Colon Villanueva, al PO BOX 7970, Ponce, P.R.

00732-7970; Teléfono: 787843-41668. En dicha demanda se tramita un procedimiento de cobro de dinero y ejecución de hipoteca bajo el número mencionado en el epígrafe. Se alega en dicho procedimiento que la parte Demandada incurrió en el incumplimiento del Contrato de Hipoteca, al no poder pagar las mensualidades vencidas correspondientes a los meses de junio de 2018, hasta el presente, más los cargos por demora correspondientes. Además, adeuda a la parte demandante las costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado en que incurra el tenedor del pagaré en este litigio. De acuerdo con dicho Contrato de Garantía Hipotecaria la parte Demandante declaró vencida la totalidad de la deuda ascendente a la suma de $162,886.85 de balance principal, más intereses sobre dicha suma a razón del 5.875% anual desde el primer día de mayo de 2018, así como todos aquellos créditos y sumas que surjan de la faz de la obligación hipotecaria y de la hipoteca que la garantiza, inc luyendo $18,000.00, pactado costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado. La parte Demandante presentó para su inscripción en el Registro de la Propiedad correspondiente, un AVISO DE PLEITO PENDIENTE (“Lis Pendens”) sobre la propiedad objeto de esta acción cuya propiedad es la siguiente:

RÚSTICA: Predio de terreno de forma rectangular radicado en el Barrio Ortiz del término municipal de Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de novecientos noventa y siete punto sesenta y ocho (997.68) metros cuadrados, en lindes por el Norte, en dos alineaciones distintas que forma un total de cuarenta y nueve punto catorce metros, con un camino vecinal; por el SUR y el ESTE, en cincuenta punto cero cero (50.00) metros, con el camino público que le sirve de acceso y por el OESTE, en cuarenta y uno punto cuarenta y nueve (41.49) metros, con el remanente de la finca principal de la cual se segrega. Inscrita al folio doscientos veintiuno (221) del tomo ciento nueve (109) de Toa Alta, finca número (5070) cinco mil setenta, Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección III. SE LES APERCIBE que de no hacer sus alegaciones responsivas a la demanda dentro del término aquí dispuesto, se les anotará la rebeldía y se dictará Sentencia, concediéndose el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, sin más citarle ni oírle. Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal en Bayamón, Puerto Rico. A 27 día abril de 2023. Lcda. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria Regional. Katherine Santiago Rodríguez, Secretaria Auxiliar Del Tribunal I.

The outrageous starpower of El Duque

By JACK CURRY

The mystery man was tall and lean and he was smiling, perpetually smiling. His life had dramatically changed when he left Cuba in a fishing boat, and it was about to change again. Every day featured more changes, more smiles and more glimpses of the pitcher known as El Duque.

That was the scene on a sunny spring training day when Orlando Hernández first pitched in front of the New York Yankees. After fleeing Cuba on the day after Christmas in 1997, he took a dangerous and circuitous route to signing a four-year, $6.6 million contract with the Yankees. Now Hernández was finally on a mound in Tampa in late March of 1998, surrounded by curious Yankees coaches and executives who were eager to see him pitch.

He tossed a baseball softly and confidently, the ball snapping off his fingertips and popping into the catcher’s mitt. There was an ease and a swagger about Hernández, a recognition that all eyes were on him and a realization that he adored the attention. After more than a year of not playing baseball, he was finally pitching again.

On that day in Tampa, the real El Duque antics started when he pitched from a windup and unveiled a funky motion that was different from any that the attendees had ever seen. His eyes looked menacing as he held his glove in front of his face, but it was his limber and acrobatic leg kick that made him so distinctive. He lifted his left leg and it climbed higher and higher, his knee almost brushing his chin, and then he peered to the side before reconnecting with the target and powering forward to fire a pitch. It was athletic. It was balletic. It was gorgeous.

“He showed up for this bullpen session in Tampa and he just had this presence about him like he was Michael Jordan,” said general manager Brian Cashman. “There was something projecting from him, a presence that you could feel. It was greatness. He wasn’t cocky, but there was something about him.”

Hernández did not have a single major league inning on his résumé, but Cashman saw a similar ultracompetitive nature between the pitcher and Jordan.

“I feel like when you’re around successful people, they emit an aura about them,” Cashman said. “And, before El Duque knew what he could do around here, he was emitting that aura. He had a presence.”

Cashman wasn’t alone in instantly noticing Hernández’s presence, his confidence and his talents. He was so excited to pitch

again, so excited to be a Yankee and, honestly, was probably excited to show off. He had been the king of the mound in Cuba, a baseball-obsessed country where he had a gaudy 129-47 record for Havana’s Industriales, who are Cuba’s version of the Yankees.

As I watched El Duque, on and off the field, I eventually realized there was no one like him. He was daring and proud and focused and captivating. While working on my book “The 1998 Yankees: The Inside Story of the Greatest Baseball Team Ever,” there were constant reminders that Hernández was the most fascinating player on that historic team. I devoted a chapter to him and called it “International Man of Mystery” because he made an already great team even more imposing, because he was a very savvy and gutsy pitcher and because he was a joy to observe.

“Couldn’t stop watching him,” said David Cone, another Yankees pitcher known for his creativity. “Wanted to see what he did next.”

How could El Duque pitch so effectively with a leg kick that would make a Rockette proud? How many arm angles did he use? How many pitches did he throw? The questions hovered over Hernández, and he answered them all emphatically while going 12-4 with a 3.13 earned run average. Then he won the Yankees’ most important game of the season in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.

He was immune to pressure.

“I don’t think anybody has written the right movie script for this guy,” said catcher Jorge Posada. “There’s no way to really tell his story and what he had to go through to

get here and pitch for the Yankees. That’s just a movie waiting to happen. It was unbelievable.”

Covering Hernández in 1998 was highly entertaining, a delightful show every time he stared at a batter. He was just different. Even the way he prepared for games was different. Before he picked up a baseball, he would do wind sprints, leg kicks and calisthenics in the outfield, making other pitchers look like weekend warriors.

Most pitchers don’t speak to reporters before starts, but Hernández was chatty. Before his fifth start, he casually told reporters that Fidel Castro, the Cuban leader and a man he reviled, would very likely watch him pitch against the New York Mets, and he added, “He knows everything.” After talking and talking, Hernández proceeded to throw 141 pitches across eight innings.

And he wanted to keep pitching.

“In Cuba, you don’t have a relief pitcher every time out,” Hernández said. “In Cuba, it’s win or die.”

The teammate with the best perspective on Hernández was Posada, who was as headstrong as the pitcher he caught. Of Hernández’s 23 starts in the regular season and postseason in 1998, Posada caught 21 of them. All these years later, he searched for the optimal way to describe El Duque.

“He was just perfection,” Posada said. “He was so — well, perfection is a word, but I’m not sure it’s the word I’m looking for. He wasn’t nervous. He went through hell and now he’s living his childhood dream. He was just saying: ‘I’m here. This is the best time of my life and I’m not going to take anything for granted.’ Yeah, I guess perfection is the word I wanted to use.”

In the emotional and feisty Posada, the Yankees had the ideal catcher to handle Hernández. Posada respected Hernández and felt an immediate kinship with him because Posada’s father had also defected from Cuba in 1968.

“I told him all about my dad and, of course, it brought us closer,” Posada said.

Hernández called Posada “a brother for me then and a brother for me today,” and they were part of a very tight-knit Yankees’ team. After a tumultuous 1-4 start in which manager Joe Torre and Cashman wondered about their job security, the Yankees cruised through an idyllic season. Pressure? What pressure? The Yankees kept winning, so there was little stress. Until Game 4 of the ALCS. Until they trailed the Indians two games to one in a best-of-seven series.

Continues on page 28

Orlando Hernández joined the Yankees rotation in June 1998 and proceeded to exceed all expectations. Then he saved the team’s season.

From page 27

“It was really the first time all year that we were worried,” said outfielder Paul O’Neill.

Enter El Duque, an unflappable pitcher who treated the pressure-packed game the same as any other start. On the morning of Game 4, Torre was eating breakfast in the hotel restaurant when he noticed a familiar figure cleaning plates and silverware from tables to help the overtaxed staff. That helper was Hernández, who was as carefree as a pitcher could be.

“He wasn’t afraid of a thing,” said Derek Jeter. “And, if you think about it, he was the perfect guy for that game.”

Since Hernández had not pitched in 15 days, it was important for him to navigate through the first inning and find the feel for his pitches. But a single and a walk put two runners on base for Jim Thome, who had blasted two homers in Game 3. And Thome almost went deep again as he drove Hernández’s change-up to right field, but O’Neill caught it in front of the fence for the third out. The Yankees exhaled. Then the game became the El Duque Show as he pitched seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 win.

It is not hyperbole to say that Hernández rescued the Yankees. Had the Yankees faltered, they would have been one loss away from elimination, and the pressure would have been insufferable. The incessant question would have

been: Could the team that won 114 regular season games flop? With all that the Yankees had accomplished, that would have been a crisis they had not faced all season. Instead, El Duque guided the Yankees.

“I had pressure,” Hernández said. “But I had no fear.”

El Duque gave the Yankees much more than one win that tied the series. In the relieved clubhouse, it was evident that Hernández had also given the Yankees their swagger back. For 48 tense hours, the Yankees were an uncomfortable bunch who wondered if their remarkable ride was about to end. It didn’t. It didn’t because of El Duque, the most compelling character in my book and the most fascinating player on the greatest team ever.

How Messi’s marriage with PSG fell apart

By TARIQ PANJA

The moment the private jet carrying Lionel Messi to a lucrative sponsorship engagement in Saudi Arabia taxied onto a French runway early this week, his career at Paris St.-Germain was effectively over.

The suspension would come a day later. The official parting won’t happen until his contract expires in a few weeks. The blame game may go on for months.

But by Wednesday there was no doubt on the main points: Messi will never play for PSG again, and the player and the club are just fine with that.

The ending will not have come as a surprise to either side. Theirs had always been a business relationship, one lacking the emotional weight of Messi’s previous tenure at Barcelona. And while there had been talks about renewing the forward’s contract in the weeks and months after Messi led Argentina to the World Cup title in December in Qatar, neither side appeared committed to consummating a deal.

But by skipping a practice Monday, a day after fans in Paris had jeered the league leaders for a home loss to Lorient, a middling team that PSG’s stacked roster was expected to swat aside, any idea of a renewal extinguished.

Mondays are traditionally a day off for PSG’s players after a victory. When they lose, however, the players are expected to train.

By Monday afternoon, though, Messi and his family were already being photographed in Saudi Arabia, fulfilling a part of the player’s multiyear contract to promote the Gulf kingdom’s tourism authority. In Paris, club officials were formulating their furious response to their star’s unapproved absence.

By Tuesday evening, word started to spread that PSG would not indulge Messi.

Officially, the club has been tight-lipped. But the penalties meted out to Messi were quickly leaked: He had been suspended from practice and games for two weeks, during which time he would not receive a cent of his gargantuan salary, reported to be close to $800,000 a week. Privately, a club official said it was unlikely Messi would ever wear the club’s colors again.

Like PSG, Messi and his representatives remained publicly silent as speculation grew that their relationship was falling apart behind the scenes. Messi’s camp has, though, briefed a variety of media personalities on his side of the story. Messi was under the impression that he had the club’s permission to carry out his commercial endeavor, those reports said this week. Messi had decided a month ago, one reported, that he would not stay in Paris for a third season. He had even transmitted that decision to the club, the reports said.

The club, meanwhile, was doing the same. The immediate concern, it seemed,

was not to repair the relationship but to control the narrative. But focusing on the specifics ignored the obvious: This week’s denouement represents the nadir in Messi’s transactional relationship not only with PSG but perhaps also with the state of Qatar. The former had heralded his arrival in Paris less than two years ago — a soft landing after Messi’s budget-driven, tear-filled exit from Barcelona — as a triumph. The latter has gone to great lengths ever since to associate itself with Messi’s genius.

The marriage of convenience could not have gone better for player, club and country. Messi signed one of the richest contracts in sports. Qatar-owned PSG added another world-class name in its to-date-fruitless search for a Champions League title. Qatar the nation, meanwhile, added a headliner before the biggest event in the country’s history, the 2022 World Cup, and then watched Messi play a starring role in a tournament that ended with his being draped in a bisht — a traditional

ceremonial cloak — by Qatar’s emir and then paraded through the streets of Lusail like a trophy.

Figures close to PSG expressed surprise Wednesday with the characterization of Messi’s exit being presented on his behalf. They said it was the club that had gone slow on the idea of a contract renewal, as part of a plan to refashion the club away from its addiction to superstars like Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé and toward one that is more reliant on homegrown talent. Messi’s camp, they insisted, had even put a number on what it would take him to stay, proposing a salary increase that was far beyond anything the club had tentatively offered in January. By then, though, it may have been too late.

Storm clouds had started to gather almost as soon as Messi returned from Qatar as a world champion. PSG’s form started to dip as the league season resumed in the new year, and its once-unassailable lead in the league started to shrink. The team was dumped out of the French Cup and — most frustratingly for its Qatari owners and its Parisian fans — from the Champions League, too.

All the while, the jeers and whistles of the PSG ultras grew louder, and the angriest voices increasingly started to focus on Messi, whose form and output — perhaps as expected for a 35-year-old coming off an exhausting World Cup — dipped below his customary brilliance.

Messi watchers, part of a cottage industry attached to the player’s stardom as much as his soccer prowess, have in recent weeks speculated about where he might land next season. A return to Barcelona, perhaps? An American adventure in Miami? An extended stay in Saudi Arabia? All are surely on the table now.

As Messi poses for photos with his family in Riyadh, one thing is crystal clear: His future will not be in Paris.

A missed practice, a Saudi vacation and a brief suspension brought a sudden end to a star’s transactional relationship with Paris St.-Germain, and Qatar.

Sudoku

How to Play:

Fill in the empty fields with the numbers from 1 through 9.

Sudoku Rules:

Every row must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Every column must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Every 3x3 square must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Crossword

Answers on page 30

Wordsearch

Aries (Mar 21-April 20)

Are you an artist, writer, or musician, Aries? If so, your work may take on a more symbolic or impressionistic tone. Today you’re probably more interested in conveying feelings and impressions than details. It might surprise you that you’re thinking along those lines. This urge may vanish tomorrow, so if you like today’s work, make the most of it. Try to remember how and why you’re doing it!

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

Innovative art forms might seem especially appealing today, Taurus. Stay out of gallery shops unless you’re prepared to take home a carload of merchandise. If you’re more into music, you might break the bank downloading tunes to your MP3 player. This could be a new phase in your artistic tastes or it could be a longstanding trend. Whichever it is, have fun!

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Do you believe in ghosts? Some strange phone calls, emails, or other communications may come your way today, Gemini. One may come from someone who thinks you’re someone else. Phone calls may be hang-ups, wrong numbers, or phantom rings. If there’s a knock at the door, it may be the house settling and not a ghost, but it can still be rather unnerving. Try not to think about it.

Cancer (June 22-July 23)

An unexpected sum of money could come your way today, Cancer. It probably won’t be large, but it will be welcome nonetheless. Perhaps someone has owed you money for a long time and finally repays it. Or you might sell an item you’ve wanted to unload for a long time. Whatever it is, you might want to take a friend to dinner. Go for it and have fun!

Leo (July 24-Aug 23)

Have you been exercising too rigorously lately, Leo? If so, you might feel some little aches and pains. Stay off your feet for most of the day. When you exercise, concentrate on stretching. Spend some time soaking in a hot tub if you can. The old saying, “No pain, no gain” has pretty much been discredited! Yoga or tai chi could serve you as well as aerobics today. Stick with those!

Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)

The feeling that someone is coming to visit you might be with you throughout the day, Virgo. Your intuition is probably right, except for one thing - it’s probably more than one person! Some friends may have some good news that they want to share as soon as possible. Straighten up the house and pretend to be surprised when they come to the door. Have a great evening!

Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

Are all of your friends into astrology, divine science, or spiritual matters, Libra? It might seem like most of them are today, anyway. You may have many new friends in those fields. You have a lot to learn from all of them, and even more that you can learn together. A giant spurt of personal growth is right around the corner.

Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

Are all of your friends into astrology, divine science, or spiritual matters, Libra? It might seem like most of them are today, anyway. You may have many new friends in those fields. You have a lot to learn from all of them, and even more that you can learn together. A giant spurt of personal growth is right around the corner.

Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)

Are you contemplating a trip, Sagittarius, perhaps to a place you’ve always dreamed of visiting? If you’re in doubt as to whether or not you can do it, work out your budget and you might be surprised. Invite a friend or romantic partner to accompany you. Such a trip could boost your personal growth like nothing you’ve ever tried before. Think about it!

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)

Are you contemplating a trip, Sagittarius, perhaps to a place you’ve always dreamed of visiting? If you’re in doubt as to whether or not you can do it, work out your budget and you might be surprised. Invite a friend or romantic partner to accompany you. Such a trip could boost your personal growth like nothing you’ve ever tried before. Think about it!

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 19)

A current or potential romantic partner might seem like the most perfect, wonderful person in the world to you, Aquarius. Your romantic nature could get the better of you today. Don’t gaze at your partner all dewy eyed! Instead, try to maintain a certain distance to avoid appearing too needy. It was probably your self-sufficiency and inner power that attracted your lover in the first place.

Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)

A current or potential romantic partner might seem like the most perfect, wonderful person in the world to you, Aquarius. Your romantic nature could get the better of you today. Don’t gaze at your partner all dewy eyed! Instead, try to maintain a certain distance to avoid appearing too needy. It was probably your self-sufficiency and inner power that attracted your lover in the first place.

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