House committee to weigh Torres subpoena in BOOST probe

The next meeting of a House of Representatives committee that is investigating the previous administration’s grant program will focus on whether or not to issue a subpoena to compel former governor Ralph DLG Torres to appear before the committee.

The House of Representatives Special Committee on Federal Assistance & Disaster-related Funding will be meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 24, as they continue their probe into the previous administration’s Building Optimism, Opportunity, and Stability Together Program.

Rep. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan), who chairs the committee, said yesterday that they will discuss at that meeting whether or not to issue a subpoena to compel Torres’ appearance before the committee.

Yumul said members need to vote whether Torres should be issued a subpoena or not.

The meeting’s agenda also includes former Finance secretary David DLG Atalig on the list of those who might be subpoenaed.

At the committee’s meeting last Oct. 5, members unanimously agreed to issue a subpoena to compel Atalig’s appearance before the panel.

Also on the list are Torres’ former chief of staff William M. Castro, former Department of Commerce Economic Development director Jesus Taisague, and contractors Robert Travilla, Salina Sapp, and Shayne Villanueva.

House legal counsel John Bradley recently stated that witnesses have the option under both U.S. and CNMI constitutions to invoke their privilege not to talk if they think the question will incriminate them. He said the summoned witnesses, however, have to appear before the committee.

The committee is first issuing what’s called “Letter 1309” to different agencies. In Commonwealth Code, that refers to the acquisition of information by other lawful means.

The BOOST Program was a project of the previous Office of the Governor and the Department of Commerce that aimed to provide financial assistance to CNMI businesses and non-profit organizations.

Ralph DLG Torres