PTI asks Babauta to intervene with MPLA

The new batch of negotiations between the Marianas Public Lands Authority and Pacific Telecom Inc. have yet to resume since it bogged down last Thursday, prompting the telecom company to ask for the intervention of Gov. Juan N. Babauta to keep the talks going.

PTI general manager Tony Mosley said he spoke with Babauta, who reportedly assured that he would persuade the MPLA’s board to resume negotiations with the company.

“He’s [Babauta] indicated that he has support for us in our efforts. He was looking forward to these talks getting back underway,” Mosley said.

Mosley told the governor that the PTI negotiating panel wants MPLA legal counsel Ramon K. Quichocho removed from the agency’s negotiating team. “We want the [MPLA] legal counsel removed [from the talks]. We think that there’s some personal things at stake for him.”

Mosley said the negotiations could proceed if Quichocho withdraws from MPLA’s negotiating team. In a telephone interview with Quichocho last Thursday, the attorney said he is willing to withdraw from the negotiating panel so long as former CNMI Chief Justice Jose Dela Cruz, a member of PTI’s board and negotiating team, stops his alleged intimidation.

Quichocho said the other members of the MPLA’s negotiating team are very able to continue with negotiations. Besides Quichocho, members of the MPLA’s negotiating team include board member Nicolas Nekai, commissioner Edward DeLeon Guerrero and deputy commissioner Vince Castro.

“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. Mr. Dela Cruz doesn’t have to be there if it means things are going to be settled or things are going to be discussed in good faith,” Quichocho said.

“For me, Mr. Dela Cruz doesn’t have to withdraw [from MTC’s negotiating panel], but he just has 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.

The talks temporarily got stalled after the agency’s attorney allegedly got irate over discussions regarding public lands easement for the telecom firm’s underground cables. Quichocho allegedly got mad and pounded his fist on the table, which prompted MTC’s negotiating panel to walk out from the MPLA’s conference room, where the negotiations were being held. Dela Cruz said Quichocho “lost his cool” and got irritated when he disputed the lawyer’s allegation that the company is a “trespasser” on public lands.

But Quichocho claimed it was Dela Cruz who first yelled at him, accusing the former Chief Justice of intimidation. He said an exchange of words then followed.