Previous Story
MPLT lets go of planned legal action vs. MPLA
|
Posted on Dec 08 2005
The Marianas Public Lands Trust board has agreed to resolve amicably the issue on “illegally” reprogrammed money with Marianas Public Lands Authority rather than file a lawsuit against it.
MPLT board vice chair Herman R. Guerrero said they decided “to let it go.”
“Our plan is to let it go. Hopefully, we will get together some other time to discuss it amicably [with MPLA],” said Guerrero.
The MPLT board went on executive session during its meeting Wednesday while discussing the alleged illegal reprogramming of $1 million by the MPLA as requested by Gov. Juan N. Babauta for the Commonwealth Utilities.
The MPLT earlier wrote the governor demanding that he return the reprogrammed money to MPLA no later than Dec. 15 this year.
Babauta is currently in control of CUC following his May 19 declaration of state of emergency on utilities.
In the letter, MPLT legal counsel Vic DLG. Torres said that if no payment is received by Dec. 15, then the MPLT would pursue a legal action against the exiting governor and the MPLA.
According to Torres, the MPLT board approved the issuance of the letter during its meeting last time.
Before the board decided to discuss the matter in an executive session Wednesday, Guerrero and chairman Juan S. Torres were opposed to filing a lawsuit, saying that it was a waste of time and money.
Besides, they said that the reprogramming benefited the entire community as it helped the CUC repair its power generating plants.
Trustee Edith Deleon Guerrero said she was torn between two sides–seeing the benefit of the reprogrammed money and seeing the “violation” in reprogramming public land lease funds for other purposes other than homesteading.
Her arguments favored taking an action against “illegal” reprogramming.
Trustee Joseph San Nicolas, meantime, favored the extension of the Dec. 15, 2005 deadline.
Trustee Vianey Hocog was absent from the meeting.
The MPLT is the trustee of funds remitted by MPLA from public land leases.
