DeLeon Guerrero: There’s no room for lies

Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) said yesterday that nobody has been thrown under the bus as they’re just speaking transparency and the truth.

“I never wavered from transparency and being accountable to the public. I take this job seriously. I have no time for politics. I have no time to play with the lives of the people,” said DeLeon Guerrero as she spoke, among other things, during a Senate session about her decision to remove Sen. Celina R. Babauta (D-Saipan) as chairwoman of the Committee on Judiciary, Government and Law.

Babauta was absent, but excused from the session. She told Saipan Tribune that she will hold a press conference today, Tuesday.

DeLeon Guerrero stated that a lot of things have been said out there regarding her decision to remove Babauta, made fun off, and that she’s been accused of other things.

“I never move to the dark side,” she pointed out.

Some members of the House of Representatives blamed the Senate president for alleged inaction to many Senate and House bills that are pending in the Senate.

Last May 7, citing numerous pending bills and not holding a committee meeting for eight months, DeLeon Guerrero removed Babauta as chairwoman of the JGL Committee and replaced her with Sen. Karl R. King-Nabors (R-Tinian).

The Senate president said yesterday at the session that she wants to focus on transparency, which she never wavered from since she took this office when she first got elected.

“I speak transparency and accountability and trust. Respect to the people. There’s no room for games. There’s no room for lies. No more. Let’s be honest,” she said.

DeLeon Guerrero noted that Rule 7 of the Senate Rule, Section 5(d) specifically says “three members of a committee shall constitute a quorum to hold a public hearing or meeting.”

The Senate president said the evidence of truth and transparency is that, on Jan. 13, 2023, then-JGL Committee chair Babauta issued a memorandum, appointing the members of her committee.

Sen. Paul A. Manglona (Ind-Rota) was appointed vice chair, Sen. Dennis C. Mendiola (R-Rota) as a member, and Sen. Donald M. Manglona (Ind-Rota) as a member.

DeLeon Guerrero said including Babauta as the chairwoman, that’s four members of the JGL Committee.

She pointed to Mendiola’s letter to Babauta on July 17, 2023, removing himself from the JGL Committee.

The president said even with the exit of Mendiola, it still fulfills the requirement of Senate Rule 7, Section 5(d) that three members of that committee shall constitute a quorum to hold a public hearing or meeting.

DeLeon Guerrero said in the spirt of transparency, she requested Babauta twice to consider the minority members in her committee so that it is well represented.

“The response I got twice, I’ll think about it,” the president said.

Speaking about corruption, DeLeon Guerrero said she was that woman on the street, fighting Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC when its workers were screaming to be paid.

“I was the one removed as the secretary of Labor doing the right thing,” she said.

DeLeon Guerrero said as Senate president she created a special committee to look into the $200 million in American Rescue Plan Act money that was put in an investment trust account at a local bank.

“That particular committee is working hard to be transparent to the people,” she said.

The Senate president said she initiated the override of the ARPA veto.

She said she was behind the thinking of the line of credit, which is now executed as an agreement between the Marianas Public Land Trust and the administration to move the projects funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

“I utilize my skills with the background of banking and insurance making that recommendation to the governor. And as we speak today, that particular agreement has been executed,” she emphasized.

On 902 Consultations with U.S. President Joseph Biden,

DeLeon Guerrero said she introduced a resolution to request such consultations “in the interests of our people and our Commonwealth, to do the right thing and to save ourselves from sinking,” she said.

She said all these documents are available to the people, for transparency, accountability, and the truth.