Probe Villagomez

Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero yesterday formally sought an investigation into bribery allegations leveled against Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Executive Director Timothy P. Villagomez in connection with the controversial Saipan power project.

But the utility chief called the charges “lies” as he shrugged off the senator’s move, claiming it is tainted with “personal agenda.”

Mr. Guerrero asked the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations to undertake the probe into what he described as “serious allegations” raised in an affidavit reportedly signed by Alice Fleming Villagomez, ex-wife of the executive director.

A copy of the affidavit was attached to a one-page letter sent by Mr. Guerrero to EAGI Chair Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano in which the Saipan senator indicated his official request for such investigation.

“[T]hese facts, if they are true, paint a very corrupt picture of high government officials, the abuse of their authority and discretion, and their complete disregard for their fiduciary responsibilities to the people of the CNMI,” he said in his letter.

“At the very least, I believe it warrants a thorough investigation by your committee and/or any other agency with the appropriate investigative function,” added Mr. Guerrero.

The senator, who is also a former executive director of the government-owned utility corporation, provided a copy of the letter to Attorney General’s Office, Office of the Public Auditor and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Cleared by AGO

Mr. Villagomez, however, downplayed the senator’s move, saying these charges were cleared by the AGO’s Criminal Division after a “thorough” investigation conducted since September last year.

He disclosed that the affidavit from Mrs. Villagomez was part of the protest filed by the Tomen Consortium, one of the firms competing for the new power plant on Saipan, against CUC, which had been later withdrawn.

“I don’t want to repeat any of the lies in the affidavit about me and my family,” Mr. Villagomez said in an interview. “We will not sit down and let these lies ruin me and my family. We will not tolerate this.”

Noting that all the documents pertaining to the affidavit and the AG’s findings on the allegations are with CUC’s legal counsel, he said the fact that Mr. Guerrero “skipped” its points shows he is avoiding potentially “libelous” statements.

“It’s sad that this thing came out as a result of a domestic case,” said Mr. Villagomez, who is divorced from his wife.

The probe sought by Mr. Guerrero is the first formal request on the controversy surrounding the much delayed Saipan power project, which is now up for bidding again after the CUC board scrapped on Jan. 13 the initial plan and pushed for a smaller-sized plant after nearly three years of trying to get it off the ground.

Former House Speaker Diego T. Benavente and Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes have both threatened to conduct oversight on the project amid questions on the way CUC has been handling its procurement.

In a news conference last month, Mr. Villagomez denied knowledge of allegations of bribery to favor one of the bidders as speculations arose due to the delay in awarding the contract — touted to be the largest deal ever in CNMI’s history.

“Those are news to me but I am sure that members of the board and even myself have the responsibility to make sure that things are done properly and legally,” he told reporters in the meeting held last Dec. 9 at CUC office in Joeten Dandan.