Ada: Land compensation checks released

Land compensation checks that are due certified claimants have finally been released, according to Commonwealth Development Authority executive director Mary Lou Ada.

“Yes, the checks were released,” said Ada Friday evening.

Ada expressed disappointment over reports indicating that she departed from an earlier agreement when she reportedly withheld the disbursement of checks on Tuesday.

Ada, who joined Gov. Juan N. Babauta in a teleconference with Marianas Public Lands Board of Directors Monday, had expressed support for the release of the pending checks by Tuesday. Claimants, however, did not get their checks on that day after the CDA decided to hold on to the drawdown request.

The MPLA, through acting commissioner Frank Eliptico had prepared and signed MPLA Requisition No. 05-02, which requested disbursements totaling $358,045.49 to pay nine land compensation claims and reimburse MPLA for land compensation-related expenses.

Finance Secretary Fermin Atalig had concurred with it and the request was sent to Ada who was supposed to forward the requisition to Bank of Guam, the bond trustee.

MPLA, however, said that Ada informed Eliptico Tuesday afternoon that CDA would not forward the document to the bank until after the MPLA board of directors’ special meeting on Wednesday.

Babauta on Monday directed the MPLA to process the payment immediately, saying any further delay would not be justifiable.

During the teleconference, the Executive Branch, CDA, and MPLA reached a consensus to appoint MPLA deputy commissioner Frank Eliptico as acting commissioner to facilitate the immediate release of checks.

This came amid questions on the legitimacy of the appointment of MPLA commissioner Ed Deleon Guerrero.

Guerrero had succeeded Henry Hofschneider, who later sued the MPLA board for alleged illegal termination.

Due to the questionable appointment of Deleon Guerrero, the bond trustee has been hesitant to honor requisition documents bearing his signature, delaying the disbursement of funds.

MPLA said that many landowners went to the agency Tuesday, having been led to believe that their checks would be given out that day.

Individuals listed under Requisition No. 05-02 are Jose A. Ichihara, Rosa I. Ichihara, Trinidad P. Magofna, Nicolas C. Pinaula, Jesus C. Pinaula, Victorina Pinaula, Lucy Ann T. Sablan, Francisco Q. Guerrero, and the CNMI Superior Court.

The requisition also includes $47,710 in reimbursement funds for MPLA.