Santo Domingo. – The constitutional lawyer Christopher Rodriguez remembered that both Armed forces like the National Police They have the responsibility to comply with ruling TC/1225/25 of the Constitutional Court (TC)which decriminalizes sexual relations between people of the same sex within both institutions.
The jurist’s statements come after the Minister of Defense, Carlos Onofreand the director of the law enforcement body, Major General Ramón Antonio Guzmán Peraltawill affirm that they will continue to apply their disciplinary code in cases in which it is violated, despite what is established by the high court.
During La Semanal con la Prensa, the head of the Ministry of Defense reiterated his respect for the independence of the State Powers, but warned: “I want it to be very clear that, despite that ruling, The Armed Forces maintain their disciplinary code and that it applies without distinction to all those soldiers who violate it.”
Meanwhile, the director of the National Police said that he is obedient to the decisions of the high courts, but indicated that the institution “has standards, internal regulations and control bodies, which supervise that these rules and regulations are complied with.”
For Cristóbal Rodríguez, Both statements are worrying.because they introduce into the environment the possibility of contempt and disobedience.
“I want to tell you, with all due respect, but with all responsibility, to the Minister of Defense and the director of the National Police, that Its function is not to discuss a sentence“His role is to abide by the decision,” the lawyer emphasized during an interview on the El Día program.
He added that both authorities are prohibited from participating in public deliberationas provided in article 152, paragraph 3 of the Constitution of the Republic.
In that sense, he indicated that the Armed Forces and the National Police must be essentially obedient, so it is not their place to sow doubts about the possibility of contempt.
“The Constitutional Court is a power of the State, which has issued a decision that cannot be disregarded,” he stated.
The lawyer explained that the article 154 of the Constitution of the Republicestablishes that the decisions of the Constitutional Court are final, irrevocable and bind all powers of the State.
Finally, he declared that what people do with their private lives cannot be regulated, since it is an issue that is beyond the control of any State in a society organized under the rules of democracy.
