FLASHBACK November 20, 2000-2004

[B]November 20, 2000

Initiative to elect AG gets Senate approval[/B]

The Senate cleared two measures on Friday pertaining to the post of Attorney General, including the legislative initiative proposing its selection by popular vote. Senate Legislative Initiative 12-2, passed on first reading, is now up for public scrutiny as senators are expected to gather recommendations and input before giving their final approval.

[B]FAS exclusion from public housing hiked NMHC delinquency rate[/B]

A ruling that disqualified citizens of the Freely Associated States from public housing benefits two years ago pushed up the number of residents who are delinquent in their rental payment to the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation. Executive Director Marylou S. Ada disclosed some eviction incidents had to be made in the past because of high delinquency rate among FAS families who were receiving public housing benefits before they were disqualified from the Section-8 Program.

[B]November 20, 2001

Fund drops settlement talks with Torres[/B]

The Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund has terminated settlement negotiations with former Administrator Juan S. Torres after both parties failed to arrive at an amicable agreement over the terms of the settlement. Besides this, the Fund’s Board of Trustees also voted unanimously to reterminate Torres’s employment with the Fund during Thursday’s board meeting on Rota.

[B]Husband tagged in Nida Blanca murder[/B]

The spotlight on the brutal killing of Philippine cinema icon Nida Blanca turned to her husband, Rod Lauren Strunk, who was identified by the self-confessed killer to have masterminded the murder. The confessed killer of Blanca, Philip Medel, Jr., was presented by Task Force Marsha, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Chief Nestorio Gualberto before Philippine media Monday.

[B]November 20, 2003

Judge dismisses suit filed by Manglona’s bloc[/B]

Upholding the constitutional doctrine on the separation of the three branches of government, Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo yesterday dismissed with finality the lawsuit filed by Sen. Paul Manglona’s bloc, which sought to declare as unlawful the Senate’s Aug. 27 session and leadership changes made by the group of Sen. Pete Reyes. Govendo dismissed the suit on the ground of judicial abstention, urging Senate factions to work out among themselves solutions to the issues raised before the court.

[B]Is there hope for Senate unity?[/B]

Will Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo’s candid and entertaining lecture on the longstanding leadership struggle in the Senate result in a reconciliation among the feuding members? Senate President Paul A. Manglona said his group is willing to sit down with opposition senators, led by Sen. Pete P. Reyes, after the four-member minority finished serving their 30-day suspensions.

[B]November 20, 2004

150K fuel subsidy proposed[/B]

Acting Gov. Diego T. Benavente is pushing for a $150,000 a month fuel subsidy for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to arrest any potential power supply breakdown in the CNMI.Benavente said yesterday that the figure is based on a 1.5 cent subsidy to be appropriated by the Legislature.

[B]Australian firm to take over Saipan air traffic control[/B]

An Australian company has won a multi-million-dollar contract to provide air traffic control services at the airports of Saipan, Guam, and some Hawaiian islands. Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Carlos Salas said Airservices Australia will replace Serco, which currently operates Saipan’s air traffic control tower on behalf of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The five-year contract is expected to commence late this year or early 2005. “We’re just waiting for FAA to officially notify us about it. We’ll be meeting with FAA very soon to discuss specific details about the new contract,” Salas said.