With Federal fraud charges hanging over his head, Puerto Rican Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila announced yesterday at a meeting held by his party, the Partido Popular Democratico (PPD), that he was running for reelection. Seems like he has the support of those running the Pava (as his party is popularly called) as well. More than 5,000 delegates ratified a resolution vowing to support him as their candidate despite his legal problems.

Acevedo Vila’s party, the PPD, is in favor of Puerto Rico’s current Commonwealth status and in a speech at the PPD meeting, Acevedo-Vila affirmed that his party’s position was “not a matter of being anti-anything but rather a matter of being pro-Puerto Rican”.

Acevedo-Vila and many of his supporters see the federal charges that could land him up to 20 years in prison, as an attempt by the U.S. government to support the Pro-Statehood candidate and party.

Via / Reuters and CNN es Espanol (TV)