False accusations

This is in response to a paid advertisement that was published in the October 27, 2005 issue of the Saipan Tribune. In that ad, a Ms. Guadalupe P. Manglona accused Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan of hearing a case he should not have heard because he had a relationship with Ms. Manglona’s opponent, Ms. Margarita Tenorio. Ms. Manglona wants the public to believe that by voting no for Chief Justice, we are somehow protecting the integrity of the CNMI courts.

First of all, Dr. Joaquin Tenorio and Ms. Margarita Tenorio are NOT Chief Justice Demapan’s uncle and aunt. They have no direct blood relationship with Chief Justice Demapan. Chief Justice Demapan’s wife, Ms. Frances T. Demapan, is a Tenorio but her relationship with Dr. Tenorio is of the third degree. That means that Frances’ father, the late Joeten, was neither the first nor second cousin of Dr. Jack Tenorio.

Regarding Chief Justice Demapan’s relationship with Mr. Joe Guzman, true, Mr. Guzman is Chief Justice Demapan’s brother-in-law, but that alone does not create any obligation on his part under the law to recuse himself, as Mr. Guzman was not a party to the lawsuit. Furthermore, Mr. Guzman does not work under Chief Justice Demapan’s supervision. Mr. Guzman is the Building Superintendent for the entire Judiciary, i.e. the Superior and Supreme Courts. Finally, Chief Justice Demapan does not even live in the same area as Mr. Guzman. Mr. Guzman lives in Dandan and Chief Justice Demapan lives miles away in Papago. On the issue of recusal, Chief Justice Demapan has consistently recused himself from hearing cases where he indeed had a conflict.

Secondly, Ms. Manglona wants us to believe that Chief Justice Demapan took it upon himself to personally block whatever relief she was requesting. That is false. In Manglona v. Tenorio, 2004 MP 17, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Ms. Margarita Tenorio. The other justices who heard the arguments and ruled in favor of Ms. Tenorio were Former Lt. Governor and former CNMI Associate Justice Jesus C. Borja, and Guam Supreme Court Justice Anita A. Sukola.

Ms. Manglona lost on the merits of the case, not because of any personal vendetta by Chief Justice Demapan against her or her family. Finally, I have known the Chief Justice for many years. He was one of the people who inspired me to go to law school and become a lawyer. He is a man of unquestionable character and integrity. If we really want to protect the integrity of our CNMI courts, I recommend that we vote YES for the retention of Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan.

Joey P. San Nicolas
San Jose Village, Tinian