Rebuttal to James Ada

Yes, James Ada, you are right, I don’t watch all the games but I am certainly a parent. I want to refresh your memory on some things. Remember back in 1997 (World Series Tournament) in Florida? If you forgot, then let me refresh your memory:

1. You cheated my son with his allowance as well as other players;

2. You cheated my husband when you told him not to take another coach. You told him that you would give him the money for that other coach instead and you never did;

3. You told the parents to go ahead and wash the players clothes with their money and you’ll reimburse them, you never did;

4. Remember the receipts that you took home for three months? Didn’t you say that typhoon Keith ate it up?; and

5. Do you remember in Florida (1997) in the middle of the night when the players were drinking beer in their compound?

I adai James Ada, do you need me to list down more in order for you to know that I am a parent and a taxpayer? You know what James? You sound no different than Saddam Hussein, or President Marcos. You want all the people to bow to your feet so that you can rule the whole nation.

As a director for Roads & Grounds, Department of Public Works and District Administrator for Little League program, you should at least have some manners and respect for the young players. Have you ever noticed that when these Little Leagues reach Big League division, a lot of them are drinking beer? It’s because they see their own leaders drinking at the baseball field. Just like on Tuesday and Wednesdays at the San Vicente Field when the Little League All-Stars are practicing, the officials are drinking beer. Is this what the officials should be doing while awaiting for the departure of the players?

I also remember my husband telling me that Robert Magofna had said that you gave him his allowance in Rota. What about the managers and coaches? I noticed that a lot of other people received allowances and they’re not even in the delegation. You know what? You were using my husband and the players’ names to gain control of the money just because you’re calling the shots. People here in the CNMI should read this and understand that they are paying taxes and that they have a right to question the whereabouts of their money. They have the right to know where their money is going.

In what meeting did you discuss the subsistence allowances? Was it the meeting at the Aging Office in which you stood up and said, “if there is a leak about what happened tonight during this meeting that you were going to strike out the parents and their child?” Are you threatening the parents? Wake up and smell the aroma of the truth and stop dancing the lambada, because we are not asking of things that you have accomplished and how many teams or which umpire gets the training.

Here are some simple questions that you need to answer:

1. Why is it that a lot of parents don’t know about the subsistence allowance every year and why didn’t you tell the parents that there is subsistence allowance every year when they go off-island. We have in our hands documents for subsistence allowance if you need a copy.

2. Why didn’t you give the All-Star managers and coaches a chance to enjoy their allowance?

3. Why didn’t you provide a financial statement each year?

Please answer these questions.

Lastly James Ada, I don’t know where or how you were educated but your hits are foul balls. If you are trying to scare and also threaten me, then try me.

Josephine P. Aguon

On behalf of 28 parents of Little League players