‘So much animosity, lies, and unbecoming behavior’
The word war between Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) and Rep. Marissa Renee Flores (Ind-Saipan) continues, with DeLeon Guerrero slamming Flores’ latest “attack” on her as “so much animosity, lies, and unbecoming behavior.”
“I choose to stay focused, speak the truth, and continue my work for the people and our Commonwealth,” said DeLeon Guerrero yesterday when asked for comments about Flores’ statements during the House of Representatives session on Thursday.
In that session, Flores reminded again that DeLeon Guerrero proposes to provide the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation’s Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee, which the Senate president chairs, with subpoena power to conduct her investigation.
Yet, Flores said, DeLeon Guerrero sits idle on her (Flores) House Bill 23-22 which aims to give investigative subpoena powers to the Office of the Attorney General, the highest legal office in the Commonwealth. Flores said the Senate president continues to provide her own sentiments on reform, yet has displayed inaction to support her views.
“This is not about personal views. This is about accountability. This is about combating corruption. This is about finally giving our community justice. This is about government reform,” Flores had said.
She insists that, for every day her bill sits idle in the Senate waiting for DeLeon Guerrero to calendar the bill for action, public abuse of power and corruption will continue.
“So with that said, and every day it sits, colleagues, we might as well throw in the towel and live in a government designed for monarchs and communists,” Flores said.
When asked yesterday about Flores’ statements, DeLeon Guerrero pointed out that she introduced on Feb. 6, 2023, Senate Bill 23-18 to clarify that Local Legislative Delegations have the power to issue subpoenas. That bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary, Government and Law Committee on Feb. 9, 2023, and remains in that committee to date, DeLeon Guerrero said.
Sen. Celina R. Babauta (D-Saipan) chairs the Senate JGL Committee.
The Senate president said the House subpoena bill [H. B. 23-22 that Flores introduced] was referred back to the Senate JGL Committee in September 2023 and there is no scheduled committee meeting to date to publicly discuss the proposed substitute bill.
DeLeon Guerrero said her Senate Bill 23-18 is to address the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Fuel Adjustment Charge and is certainly distant to what the House subpoena bill (H. B. 23-22) is intending to do that prompted 16 licensed CNMI lawyers to write against the proposed House legislation.
DeLeon Guerrero pointed out that Flores herself had said that there already exists the power to subpoena within the law enforcement network.
She said Flores probably forgot the same message that she gave her (DeLeon Guerrero) back in September 2023.
On Sept. 21, 2023, Flores inquired why she (DeLeon Guerrero) voted “no” on the bill that will give the AG subpoena powers.
The Senate president replied to Flores’ Sept. 21 email that she wanted to make sure this is not a duplication that already allows the OAG to work/access/execute within the law enforcement network.
DeLeon Guerrero said as they are addressing the fiscal year 2024 budget crisis at that time, it also makes her worry if any additional cost will be borne with the creation of a new division.
She told Flores that the committee can look at all this plus others and file its committee report.
During Thursday’s House session, Flores stated that on that day’s front page news story, there has been another lawsuit filed by a private citizen against the OAG.
She said the OAG is the highest legal office in the Commonwealth, but unfortunately does not have the authority to issue subpoenas for investigations. Instead, Flores said, the OAG must rely on the Office of Public auditor to do so, which can be time-consuming and hinder the attorney general’s ability to act swiftly in cases of public abuse and corruption.
She pointed out that the investigative subpoena powers are essential for the AG to carry out its duties effectively. Flores said it enables the AG to gather crucial information and evidence during investigations. She said it enhances the AG’s ability to uncover the truth by compelling reluctant witnesses or entities to cooperate, ensuring accountability and transparency. The representative said it also enables the AG to enforce laws and regulations, effectively leading to the appropriate legal actions and the potential prosecutions of such behavior. Flores said it contributes to maintaining the integrity of the legal system by providing the necessary tools to fulfill the role of the AG as the CNMI’s chief law enforcement chief.
During the House session last Jan. 12, Flores questioned why 45 House bills have been sitting in the Senate for almost a year now.
DeLeon Guerrero replied that she is not holding any of her (Flores) bills and also stated that “it’s not a good role model at all—teaching our young generation to lie and be a social media bully.”
Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero
Marissa Renee Flores
