Quichocho explains his side

Marianas Public Lands Authority attorney Ramon K. Quichocho said the exchange of words between him and former Chief Justice Jose Dela Cruz arose due to what he claimed was the latter’s “continuing intimidation” in connection with negotiations over public land issues between the agency and Micronesian Telecommunications Corp.

Quichocho said Dela Cruz started yelling at him, prompting the exchange of words. “What happened was when Mr. Dela Cruz started yelling at me, I also raised my voice and I said, ‘I am giving you all the respect. Just because you are a former Chief Justice, it doesn’t give you the right not to show me respect either.’”

Quichocho said there had been progress—albeit slow—in renewed talks between the parties, which were on its second day yesterday at the MPLA conference room. He said he was responding to an inquiry by MTC panel member Larry Knecht in connection with the basis for assessing fees for public lands easement when Dela Cruz yelled at him.

“That’s what I told him in Chamorro, he should show respect as well. Everytime we meet, he’s trying to intimidate us,” Quichocho said.

“What happened this morning should not continue to happen if Mr. Dela Cruz starts treating MPLA with respect. We’re showing him all the respect. We’re even still calling him Chief Justice, although he’s the former Chief Justice,” Quichocho said. “But everytime he talks to us, he talks down and he raises his voice to the point that he’s yelling at us when he tries to talk to us. That has to stop.”

Quichocho said the MPLA remains willing to negotiate with MTC in good faith, but he said ground rules have to be laid out more clearly to ensure that the negotiating parties respect each other and in good faith.

Quichocho also chided Dela Cruz and MTC general manager Tony Mosley for providing information about yesterday’s incident to the media. “It’s very interesting that they ran immediately to the media. It seems like they were just waiting for an excuse for them not to negotiate in good faith.”

Reacting to Mosley’s statement that the company would ask the MPLA to exclude Quichocho from the agency’s negotiating team, the attorney said he is willing to withdraw from the negotiating panel so long as Dela Cruz stops his alleged intimidation. Quichocho said the other members of the MPLA’s negotiating team are very able to continue with negotiations.

“For me as long as MPLA and MTC can arrive at an amicable solution, resolution of all the pending claims and issues, I don’t have to be there,” Quichocho said.

“For me, Mr. Dela Cruz doesn’t have to withdraw [from MTC’s negotiating panel], but he just have to commit to stop bullying MPLA. That’s all. I don’t have to be there. My goal and what I want to see is MPLA and MTC resolve the pending claims and issues,” he added.