MPLA chair stands pat on suspension

By Cassie Dlg Fejeran and John Ravelo
Reporters

Marianas Public Lands Authority chair Ana Demapan-Castro stood pat on her decision to suspend MPLA administrator Henry Hofschneider, saying yesterday that she was given the authority to do so by the board itself.

Demapan-Castro pointed out that the July 30 memorandum signed by the board members even grants her the authority to terminate any employee of the MPLA who, in her discretion, is not efficiently performing his or her duties, or not complying with MPLA’s rules and regulations.

“These people should know what they’re reading. They should understand what they are signing,” she said, referring to the July 30 memo. That memo was signed by MPLA vice chair Manuel P. Villagomez, Pedro JL Igitol and Pedro M. Atalig.

Hofschneider, however, accused Demapan-Castro of being childish and said he is at a loss as to where the MPLA board chair is coming from.

“The board chairperson is acting like a child. I’m trying to understand where she is coming from. CDA has been very supportive and I think the MPLA board chairperson should be the same. I’m wondering why she is taking the issue with the requisition this far. All I ask for is a supportive member, and the chairperson should be that. I’m at a loss,” said Hofschneider.

Hofschneider said he has already met with Gov. Juan N. Babauta, whom he said is supportive and understands that nothing wrong was done.

Hofschneider said he is attempting to contact MPLA board member Benita Manglona in Rota for her views on the matter.

Demapan-Castro said she does not plan to change her decision on Hofschneider’s suspension. Although two MPLA board members disagreed with her, she said they cannot question her on this as she was given the authority to make that decision.

Demapan-Castro said the MPLA will be holding a board meeting on Thursday and Hofschneider’s suspension will be on the agenda.

“In the board meeting, the board members will ratify my decision to see who is going to oppose it,” said Castro.

She insisted that the Commonwealth Development Authority, which initiated the changes in the requisitions, was not authorized to make those alterations as it was not CDA’s documents to change. “He [Hofschneider] didn’t do proper actions on the changes. He should have informed the board. I can’t understand why he would let that happen,” she added.

Hofschneider, however, claimed that he had called a meeting with Demapan-Castro, her brother David Demapan, and CDA executive director Maria Lourdes S. Ada on July 2 to discuss the changes made in Requisition No. FY04-03.

“I explained what happened why CDA laid the requisition changes. My letter explained why the drawdown was changed. The CDA [executive] director knew what she was doing,” said Hofschneider. “She [Castro] said it was not acceptable in accounting and it would throw off the record keeping.”

When asked about this meeting with Hofschneider, Castro said she was never informed about a meeting on the issue.

Hofschneider’s suspension has sparked interest among some lawmakers to look into the circumstances behind the disciplinary action. No oversight hearing, however, has been slated regarding the controversy.

Senate minority leader Pete Reyes said he wants to find out the real score behind the suspension of Hofschneider.

“It’s always a concern when somebody is suspended, especially of that position,” Reyes said.

Reyes’ office contacted the MPLA office yesterday to shed light on the issue, but the agency’s board members have yet to return the senator’s calls as of press time.

He said, though, that he would support a joint oversight hearing on MPLA’s handling of delinquent leases, saying he wants to determine whether or not delinquent lessees continue to use government land without settling first their arrears.

House Rep. Jesus SN. Lizama, who chairs the Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations, said he has not officially received a request for an oversight hearing on the suspension of the MPLA commissioner, who is the brother of House minority leader Heinz Hofschneider.

Lizama said, however, that he would coordinate with Rep. Claudio Norita, the committee’s vice chair and the head of a special investigative committee that is looking into certain activities by the MPLA, if an oversight hearing would eventually be necessary regarding the suspension.

Norita denied that his investigative committee has been soliciting MPLA documents pertaining to the commissioner’s suspension, saying the focus of the inquiry is on other MPLA matters.

The MPLA commissioner’s 15-day suspension began on July 9. Demapan-Castro issued the suspension order, placing the agency’s executive on administrative leave with pay, allegedly for insubordination.

Hofschneider’s alleged insubordination arose when he allowed the Commonwealth Development Authority to alter document requisition No. FY04-03 without the board’s approval and written consent. The document requisition is related to the transfer of MPLA funds at the Bank of Guam to pay for land compensation claims. Hofschneider allegedly allowed the CDA to alter the amount of funds being transferred from $216, 322 to $134, 695.91 without specific information as to whom the revised drawdown amount is intended to compensate.

In the schedule of requisition request prepared by Hofschneider and MPLA comptroller David Demapan, the amount $216,322 is altered with a strikethrough and above it is typed $134,695.91. The documents showed that CDA’s Ada altered the amount listed on the requisition.

MPLA vice chair Manuel P. Villagomez and board member Nicolas Nekai had questioned Demapan-Castro’s authority to unilaterally issue the suspension order, and whether the order was necessary.