Flashback — Aug. 1999-Aug. 2003

Babauta seeks alternative ways to reimburse CNMI[/B]

CNMI’s Resident Representative to Washington Juan N. Babauta yesterday said he has asked the U.S. Congress to immediately reimburse the Northern Marianas of some $600,000 for expenses it incurred in hosting more than 500 illegal Chinese immigrants on the island-municipality of Tinian. Since it will take Congress some time to appropriate the amount, Babauta asked if it was possible to pay back the CNMI in other way because the island government does not have enough resources to spend in taking care of more illegal aliens. Nearly two months after the last batch of undocumented Chinese were sent home, a boat carrying 151 illegal Chinese immigrants arrived on Tinian last Monday morning.

Several government scholars may not be receiving financial aid during this schoolyear as the Tenorio administration projected at least $1.2 million deficit in its scholarship funds in light of the continuous economic difficulties besetting the island. To deal with the serious problem, lawmakers are looking at a financing scheme that would allow the government to guarantee bank loans to pay for the college education of its scholars. The study-now-pay-later plan was one of the recommendations discussed during a meeting yesterday between the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare and finance officials as well as the scholarship office.
[B] Aug. 19, 2002

House clarifies civil service exemptions[/B]

The bill that seeks to correct the mistakes created under Public Law 13-1 finally saw action on the legislative floor, with the House of Representatives passing the measure on a unanimous vote during Friday’s session. House Bill 13-126 now goes to the Senate for similar action. The bill essentially restores the Office of Personnel Management under the Civil Service Commission, while providing Civil Service exemptions to certain positions within the Office of the Governor. The exemptions include confidential secretaries, advisors, lawyers, personal assistants, special assistants, clerks, and administrative personnel and support staff. Such exemptions would also apply to certain positions within the Lt. Governor’s office.

Over $460,000 of government funds may be reprogrammed to the typhoon Chata’an Emergency Fund to assist the rehabilitation of Rota. This, if House Bill 13-167 sails through the Senate and eventually gets the signature of Gov. Juan N. Babauta to become law. The House of Representatives has already passed the measure. It seeks to provide Rota mayor Benjamin T. Manglona the expenditure authority over the funds. The measure arose in the wake of Typhoon Chata’an, which passed through the CNMI region, causing extensive damage to the infrastructure, residences, agricultural plots and tourism industry on the island of Rota.

Adriano asks Babauta to call for special election on Rota[/B]

Acting Senate president Joaquin G. Adriano has asked Gov. Juan N. Babauta to call for a special election on Rota in a notice of vacancy that becomes effective August 28—the date when convicted senator Ricardo S. Atalig is to begin serving his five-year sentence for wire fraud. In a letter dated August 14 officially declaring a vacancy at the upper chamber, Adriano asked the governor to have the special polls held on October 4, the same date that another special elections is going to be held on Tinian to find the replacement for Sen. Jose Dela Cruz. Atalig and Dela Cruz were convicted on wire fraud charges after colluding to provide fictitious jobs to their relatives.

The intensified drive against illegal drugs yielded another positive result with the confiscation of seven marijuana plants inside the bedroom of a San Jose house Sunday afternoon. A resident reportedly called for police assistance when she discovered seven marijuana plants inside the bedroom of her nephew, Jack T. Dowai, 23, who was consequently arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Department of Public Safety spokesperson PO2 Jason Tarkong said initial investigation disclosed that the DPS received a call for assistance around 1pm Saturday, informing them of the marijuana plants that were in different containers inside her house.