Police are hunting down an alleged former member of the notorious Philippine-based terrorist group Abu Sayyaf who had just been convicted and is now facing a deportation case.

The retirement of 179 government employees this year translates to nearly $4 million in additional pension obligations for the financially struggling CNMI government.

Allaying fears of a blue New Year among retirees, the financially distressed government managed to remit the needed funds to meet the $2.3 million pension obligations to retirees yesterday.

The Attorney General’s Office withdrew yesterday the proposed safe haven regulations after the project received overwhelming opposition at the public hearing Thursday evening.