2 Saipan senators post 5-figure travel expenses

Two Saipan senators are getting about as much allowance for official inter-island travels as their Tinian and Rota counterparts, despite the fact the most Senate sessions and meetings are held in the Third Senatorial District, according to documents from the Department of Finance.

Records showed that Saipan Sen. Thomas Villagomez received subsistence and travel allowance of $61,660.79 during the entire fiscal year 2005 to date.

Sen. Luis Crisostimo, also from Saipan, received a total allowance of $55,555.80 during the same period.

Sen. Pete Reyes, the only other senator from Saipan, is not taking allowance for inter-island sessions and meetings.

In a telephone interview, Villagomez said the allowance he had received from Finance were not all spent on inter-island travels. He explained that he sometimes used the funds for direct donations or contributions to different institutions, programs, or causes.

The Saipan Tribune tried, but failed to reach Crisostimo for his comment.

In a separate interview, Finance Secretary Fermin Atalig said senators were not required by law to justify their subsistence allowance. He added, however, that although all of the senators were equally entitled to a maximum of $5,000 a month, they had the option to take the allowance or not.

Based on official Senate rules, the allowance is given to Senate members to defray the costs of food, lodging, transportation, and other expenses they incur by reason of attending to legislative business outside their respective senatorial district.

Senate President Joaquin Adriano from Tinian received the biggest allowance, amounting to $73,387 from October 2004 to date. He is followed by Floor Leader Paul Manglona, whose allowance totaled $72,067.38 since fiscal year 2005.

Third on the list is Rota Legislative Delegation chair Diego Songao, who received $71,587.61 starting October 2004 until this month.

Tinian Sen. Joseph Mendiola received $70,744; Tinian Sen. Henry San Nicolas got $67,258; and Rota Sen. Paterno Hocog received $65,000.

Established pursuant to a resolution by the 8th Senate, the monthly allowance used to cover only for Rota and Tinian senators. An amendment by the 11th Senate set $5,000 as the maximum allowance for each senator from both islands.

The rules were again modified in the 13th Senate at the initiative of then Rep. Ramon “Kumoi” Guerrero, who insisted that Saipan senators be given the same benefit as the rest of the members.

In July 2002, the 13th Senate adopted rules that allowed Saipan senators to claim the “hassle-free” subsistence allowance.