Who is Judge Patricia Padilla who authorizes Jochy Gómez's departures from the country?

• Gómez is currently under a coercive measure, which implies a ban on leaving the country.

Santo Domingo. – Judge Patricia Padilla, head of the Second Instruction Court of the National District, has once again been placed under public scrutiny after authorizing, for the fifth time, the departure from the country of the accused José Gómez Canaan (Jochy Gómez), accused of participating in a millionaire corruption scheme under the Camaleón operation. Gómez Canaán, pointed out along with the former director of the INTRANT, Hugo Beras, and other implicated individuals, is under investigation for his alleged participation in a corruption network that attempted to defraud the Dominican State for more than RD$1,300 million through a contract for the modernization of the traffic light system in Greater Santo Domingo. The most recent decision by Judge Padilla — which authorizes Gómez's trip to Panama from June 23 to 30, 2025 — has not only raised questions about the judicial criteria applied, but also revives a history of controversial decisions in high-profile cases.

A Questioned History

It's not the first time the magistrate has been the target of criticism. In the past, she has been recused by the Public Prosecutor's Office and by legal teams in emblematic cases, such as that of former minister José Ramón Peralta (Calamar Case), for alleged actions outside the legal framework or perceived as biased. In 2023, the Third Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeals accepted the recusal of the Public Ministry and removed it from the Peralta case, stating that it "acted with excessive discrepancy" by nullifying a mandatory review of a coercive measure.

Read more: Judge Patricia Padilla authorizes for the fifth time the departure from the country of the accused Jochy Gómez

Years earlier, in 2018, she was suspended by the Judicial Council, after releasing two defendants accused of drug trafficking, in a decision that was never fully explained by the then presidency of the Supreme Court. Furthermore, in the context of the Chameleon case, Padilla has authorized multiple travel permits in favor of Gómez Canaán, including destinations such as Disney World and Panama, despite the fact that the defendant is under investigation for serious crimes, including sabotage, fraud, coalition of officials, and fraudulent use of public resources.

Growing Controversy

This repeated flexibility has led the Public Ministry to formally challenge the judge last May, warning that her decisions "benefit in legal terms those accused of sabotage and terrorism." Likewise, various voices from the judicial sphere have expressed concern about the coherence, proportionality, and respect for due process that must prevail in high-impact cases like this one. As of today, Judge Patricia Padilla maintains her position and jurisdiction, while the Jochy Gómez case continues under investigation. The scrutiny over her decisions, however, only seems to grow.