FLASHBACK December15, 1998-2000

Holiday trips surge[/B]

The Northern Marianas will see an increase in the number of visitor arrivals from Japan this holiday season as Japan Airlines began its promotional campaign to help save the sagging tourism industry. This early, all JAL regular flights from December 23 to January 10 are already fully booked as Japanese escape the harsh winter season and spend the holidays on the island. Likewise, its four remaining chartered flights from Nagoya to Saipan using a Boeing 767 aircraft are already assured of full capacity. Two earlier flights arrived on December 4 and 11.

The government is considering issuing $75 million to $80 million worth of nonrated bonds to raise cash to match Capital Improvement Projects funds, Commonwealth Development Authority Chairman Juan S. Tenorio said yesterday. He said the Revitalization Task Force, of which CDA is a member, made the decision in a last-ditch effort to source out an estimated $85 million in federal grants that have not been tapped since 1995. “Right now, we have no choice. It’s important to borrow money,” Tenorio said. Use of federal funds decreased greatly in the past three years out of a combination of the former governor’s reluctance to tap them and the lack of matching funds to draw them out.

Nielsen’s resignation sought[/B]

Visibly irked over refusal to reimburse expenditures incurred from community contributions, Rep. Melvin O. Faisao yesterday called on Finance Sec. Lucy DLG Nielsen to step down if she doesn’t see it fit to comply with provisions of the law. “If she wants it her own way, resign and run for [Legislature] so she can define the meaning of ’public purpose’,” he said during a House session. Mr. Faisao’s complaints stemmed from alleged refusal by the Department of Finance to pay about $290 in tent rentals charged by the representative to his legislative account. Ms. Nielsen could not be reached for comment on his allegations.

Thirty-three-year-old James King Manglona, also known as Jose Hofschneider, merely wanted to keep his job so that he can feed his family. A high school dropout without any special skill, he was lucky to land a job in the Legislature earning $35,000 a year as aide of former Sen. Herman M. Manglona. Unfortunately, his desire to give his four children — three boys and a girl — a comfortable life and a better future now remains uncertain. U.S. District Court Judge Alex R. Munson yesterday sentenced him to six months imprisonment for attempting to corrupt or influence a grand juror into voting against the indictment of Mr. Manglona. According to U.S. Attorney Kevin Seely, James approached a grand juror last Aug. 25 and asked her to disclose information in connection with any investigation on Mr. Manglona, who was then facing bribery charges committed when he was mayor of Tinian. James also tried to convince the grand juror to vote “no” to the indictment as well as persuade other grand jurors to do the same. He promised to pay the grand juror in exchange for the favor.

Jury finds Repeki guilty of murder[/B]

Jurors decided in favor of the prosecution yesterday when they found Eugene Repeki, Jr. guilty of murder in the second degree in connection with the brutal killing of a 40-year-old security guard last May 4, 1999. Mr. Repeki, 21, is only one of three suspects facing trial for the manslaughter and aggravated assault of Filipino worker Cesario B. Valerio. His alleged co-conspirators, Anthony Magofna and Thomas Basa, stand to undergo the same trial next year.

Public Auditor Leo L. LaMotte is asking the Public School System to immediately look into the possible involvement of Marianas High School Principal James Denight in the alleged irregularities on the purchase of supplies and services using a special trust fund. LaMotte also urged the PSS to seriously consider the enforcement of employment sanctions against the custodian of the MHS Food Court, a locally-established food service program, for violating the ethics provision of the System’s procurement rules.