ABTC a step closer toward using unmarked vehicles
The measure that would allow agents of the Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Control Division to use unmarked vehicles has hurdled its first step.
The House of Representatives Committee of Judicial and Governmental Operations, which Rep. Ivan A. Blanco (R-Saipan) chairs, approved last Thursday the inclusion of House Bill 20-132 on the House calendar.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Joseph “Lee Pan” Guerrero (R-Saipan). It seeks to allow the ABTC to own and operate unmarked vehicles.
According to ABTC director David Maratita, who attended the JGO meeting in place of Commerce Secretary Mark Rabauliman, the division would use unmarked vehicles for surveillance purposes, when they do undercover operations.
Prior to its adoption at the committee level, multiple members expressed support for the passage of the bill.
Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) referred to it as “straightforward and simple.”
“There is a need to allow law enforcement to do their surveillance with an unmarked vehicle as it really helps them investigate violators of the law that [they are required to enforce],” said Sablan, who himself is a former CNMI law enforcer prior to being a House member.
According to Sablan, only the Department of Public Safety and the Division of Customs have the ability to use unmarked vehicles.
Blanco also supported the bill after confirming with Maratita that ABTC had pending cases in which the use of unmarked vehicles were essential to their investigation.
Minority leader Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) also expressed his support.
“We talked about taking care of some of the social issues, especially [those that] concern the youth,” said Villagomez. He added that unmarked vehicles would greatly support ABTC investigations as Maratita said some investigations require undercover operations.
“I believe we should give them the enforcement tools to further carry out their duties,” Villagomez said.
You don’t need to hide behind tinted windows to conduct surveillance, you need to have the BRAINS and how effectively conduct your surveillance (I parked several feet away in between parked vehicles, although my top light bars can be seen, but what the heck!). I, for one in a marked Police vehicle caught a Chinese store in Hotel Street selling three times. I mean it’s pretty obvious, the driver came out of the store and throws plastic bag into passengers side window. I walked up and have casual talk with driver and make my observations on driver and plastic that was thrown into the vehicle and confiscated the evidence. Gather information on the cashier, who was positively identified by the driver called into Dispatch for case number. Several days later, ABTC Agent calls and i informed him of what transpired, even provided previous DPS case numbers that I investigated while using a MARKED Police vehicle. But, years went by and people still come to me and report the same incidents, as the same store was selling alcoholic beverages after the hours as prescribed by law.
On another note, an ABTC Agent Mr. Mario Salas comes into the Casino, flashes his badge to Security (BSI) and says ” I’m undercover ABTC Agent” and seriously he still does that when he comes into the Casino.
Hagu Real Agent Salas!