Lawmaker calls for oversight investigation into DFEMS
Accusing the department of budget mismanagement, Sen. Dennis Mendiola (R-Rota) is asking the Senate Committee on Judicial, Government, and Law to launch an oversight investigation into the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
Last Monday, through a letter to Committee on Judicial, Government, and Law chair Sen. Karl King-Nabors (R-Tinian), Mendiola formally requested an oversight investigation into the operations of DFEMS—currently led by Commissioner Juan Pua—claiming the department has been mismanaging funds appropriated to them from FY2024.
“There are serious concerns that the department has been engaging in practices that are not aligned with the fiscal budget appropriation for FY 2024 and are in violation of Public Law 18-73, which outlines the governance framework for the department,” he said.
During a recent budget hearing, Mendiola said Pua acknowledged that he had initiated the reallocation of employees into higher positions, but failed to disclose these actions in his budget submission, including the associated personnel costs.
“Despite the fiscal constraints and the governor’s executive orders calling for financial prudence, commissioner Pua did not accurately present the impact of these reallocations. Moreover, he suggested that these personnel would be paid using revolving funds meant for operational needs, which raises further concerns about budgetary mismanagement,” he said.
Mendiola also highlighted an incident during DFEMS’ budget hearing where he claims casts “doubt” on Pua’s integrity.
“In addition to these budgetary issues, I must highlight a troubling incident during the Senate budget hearing. Commissioner Pua misrepresented the nature of a conversation we had about a year ago regarding the temporary appointment of individuals to acting positions. Despite assurances at that time that these were temporary measures, during the hearing, the commissioner denied having had such a conversation. This misrepresentation casts doubt on his integrity and transparency in managing the department,” he said.
Mendiola adds that Pua has also admitted to routing documents that propose reallocating individuals to high-capacity roles, even though these same individuals previously identified the department as being “top-heavy” in a transition report.
“This inconsistency points to a lack of strategic planning and potentially misguided use of departmental resources. There are additional concerns about the presence of ghost employees within DFEMS, where some individuals appear to be receiving full salaries without performing actual work. This not only represents a misuse of public funds, but also negatively impacts the department’s overall efficiency and morale,” he said.
Furthermore, Mendiola claims there are indications of excessive procurement of professional services, yet during the budget hearing, Pua was unable to account for these expenses.
“As the expenditure authority, his uncertainty raises serious concerns about his awareness and oversight of the department’s financial activities. This issue warrants our attention, and a deeper examination is necessary to uncover the full extent of the problem,” he said.
Overall, Mendiola says the focus of the investigation should include non-compliance with fiscal budget appropriation, violation of Public Law 18-73, perjury and misrepresentation by Pua, implications of ghost employees, and excessive procurement of professional services.
“Given the severity of these issues, I urge you to initiate a thorough oversight investigation into the department’s operations. The investigation should aim to uncover the root causes of these problems, hold accountable those responsible for any misconduct, and implement the necessary reforms to ensure that DFEMS operates in full compliance with its legal and fiscal obligations,” he said.
“The safety and well-being of our community depend on the integrity and efficiency of our emergency services. It is essential that DFEMS upholds the highest standards of accountability and transparency to maintain public trust and ensure the effective delivery of emergency services,” Mendiola added.
Dennis James Mendiola
