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Manglona’s indictment shocks Tinian
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Posted on Sep 24 1999
Tinian — Officials here have expressed sympathy for Sen. Herman Manglona who resigned from his post after pleading guilty to charges of bribe-taking, mail fraud and jury tampering.
“We are saddened by what has happened to him but every person must be responsible for his action and he has accepted that,” said Mayor Francisco Borja. He expressed hope that some leniency would at least be given to Manglona, who pled guilty to bribery charges.
Reports of Manglona’s admission shocked local residents of this tiny island-municipality, where he served as mayor for four years. He was indicted for soliciting and accepting bribe money from Sablan Construction Ltd., Inc. when he was mayor of Tinian.
Sablan Construction, which rents heavy equipment, was subsequently rewarded by the Tinian Mayor’s Office with contracts for the rent of payloaders and dump trucks, among others.
Court records show that Manglona had raked in a total of $14,500 which he received in seven installments from February 1996 to December 1996. Manglona is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 21, 1999.
The Board of Elections has instructed the leaders of the Republican and Democratic Parties to prepare their candidates for the special election when the Senate declares the position of Manglona vacant. It will take place shortly after the November 6 polls.
Asked how he would assess the chances of the Democrats in the coming elections, Borja said he believes that the people would vote for the candidates of the party because of their achievements.
“There has been more progress under this administration and the people will remember that,” he said. (LFR)
