‘Where were you then?’

Remember when Glenna Palacios-Reyes launched a crusade against Judge Virginia Sablan Ornerheim? Glenna campaigned against the judge because of a ruling she made against Baby Issa. Where was Yvonne Reyes-Gomez then?

Where was Yvonne to advise Glenna to find the most appropriate avenue as she explores ways to deal with her sense of loss or violation? Where was Yvonne to tell Glenna that “people grieve differently and we need to allow them to cope, whether it be engaging in healthy physical activity, seeking professional counseling or just leaning on loved ones for support”?

Why didn’t Yvonne publicly advise her stepmother Glenna, who may be about the same age as her, to find more constructive ways to deal with her anger?

Of course, as we all know, when it came to Glenna, Baby Issa, and Judge Ornerheim, Yvonne was silent. She would not dare to publicly criticize Glenna for her public “hatred” against the judge, whom she publicly attacked during an election campaign. And perhaps she rightly shouldn’t have because Glenna felt a profound sense of injustice directed against her daughter, Baby Issa. Glenna felt that Baby Issa was violated. Glenna felt that her family was violated, and so she spoke out publicly against the judge.

Today, we, the aggrieved family of the late Charles Reyes, are speaking out publicly against the profound injustice that Sen. Pete P. Reyes has leveled against the estate of his brother, as well as his nephews. And this is not just a personal family feud or trash talk. This is a legitimate issue of community concern. We are talking here about a gross abuse of power and influence over the CNMI judicial branch.

Senator Reyes has no legal standing in my father’s estate. The restraining order he secured was totally illegal and completely without legal merit. It was based on a repealed domestic violence statute. There was no domestic violence involved. No child or woman was in the house. This is scary for a democracy and for our system of justice. How could Judge Ramona Manglona sign such an order in the first place? It had to be because of the powerful political influence of Sen. Pete P. Reyes.

Senator Reyes is a public figure and his callous actions are subject to public scrutiny, and the public, including his estranged family members, have every right to hold him accountable, just as Glenna did with Baby Issa.