Board of Parole schedules pardon hearing for Fitial
The CNMI Board of Parole has arranged a pardon hearing for Benigno R. Fitial a day after Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman imposed a one-year prison sentence on the 69-year-old former governor.
Board of Parole chair Ramon B. Camacho yesterday placed a newspaper announcement for the pardon hearing at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe on June 30 at 9am and, if necessary, the following day, July 1, at 9am.
In the announcement, Camacho said the board will be considering whether to support or object to a pardon for Fitial.
Camacho said after hearing public testimony and discussing the matter, the board will then vote on whether to support or object to Gov. Eloy S. Inos’ issuance of a pardon.
The chairman urged anyone wishing to submit a written statement to the board for its consideration may do so by dropping it off in person at the Board of Parole Office on Capitol Hill prior to the June 30 hearing.
In a phone interview, Camacho said an individual requested the board to hold a pardon hearing so they have to act on it by setting a public hearing. For the meantime, he refused to identify the individual who made such a request.
Camacho said pursuant to the constitution, the governor has to consult with the board on the issue of granting pardon to Fitial.
“Because there is a request for that, so the governor has to consult with the Board of Parole,” the chairman said.
Wiseman allowed Fitial to start serving the prison term at the Department of Corrections on or before July 6, 2015. The judge so ordered after attorney Stephen Nutting, counsel for Fitial, informed the court that the former governor needs to go back to the Philippines in the next few days for his ongoing medical rehabilitation/treatment.
“Such conduct cannot, should not, and will not be tolerated and the proverbial message must be sent that government officials who betray the public trust by violating the laws of the CNMI will in all likelihood go to jail,” Wiseman said.
Fitial signed a plea agreement with the government and pleaded guilty last May 13 to misconduct in public office and conspiracy to commit theft of services. While Nutting said they are extremely disappointed with the prison sentence, the former governor refused to comment as he walked out from Wiseman’s courtroom after the hearing on Wednesday.
Abaros might as well greet every convicted felon sentenced by a judge and hold the same generous pardon so they are set free from day one. Is this your perception of justice Mr. Abaros?
Why is the person’s name confidential?
Another history in the making by Allies of Fitial. Now Gov. Know is truly showing his true colors (the last I read in the papers, that his boy would issue a statement and I’m not surprised it would amount to this to save their fallen mighty cartel) might as well join him too in prison Eloy. If this some other citizen, it’ll probably or let me me rephrase that, it’s going to fall on deaf ears.
The AG should look and keep everybody in line in that it seems that Abaros’ board of parole may have overreached an authority it doesn’t have from the outset. Isn’t the issuance of a pardon limited to the governor?
NO PARDON! by accepting the plea, Fitial admitted 1) he committed unlawfully while he was the Elected Governor of the CNMI, and 2) he conspired to steal from all of us, the CNMI public. His actions showed extreme lack of respect for each and every citizen of the CNMI. He should serve his jail sentence just like every other thief and liar.
This hearing is a political set up to ease Gov. Inos into pardoning Fitial. It involves commutation and the pardon. Interesting though the rather unusual agenda of the board seeking, from the court of public opinion, whether the pardon should be granted or not. Isn’t this constitutionally reserved for the governor? It stinks!
So what this “board” is saying, is that if me (or anyone) wants to get any convict “pardoned” all anyone has to do is request a “hearing” and that hearing must be set “expeditiously”?
OK, I like them to hold a hearin on Christosimo, the convicted murder of Emy for a pardon.
I will expect that to be before next weeks end.
All of you Fitialites never give up. The ‘person’ who requested (instructed) for that “hearing was most likely from te Gov’s office. What a bunch of clowns.
Of the people that Fitial pardoned or commuted the sentence for, I never heard of or seen any publication about any hearing. Only after the fact of the ation by Fitial and also the rearrest of a couple of the ones pardoned.
he won’t spend any time, Inos will see to that…(BIRDS OF A FEATHER)
It’s a damned shame that people still don’t realize that the office is sacred and are serving at their pleasure – they do as they pleased. The board should’ve done this over the phone to spare everyone the time. Hopefully, someone brave enough from the hill will introduce a bill to end this special privileged. No offense to those involved but it’s not really fair for us regular Joes, who stole or sold illegal contraband for a reason versus those that just wants to fill their pocket.
http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/15996-taotao-tano-says-constitutional-provision-on-pardons-paroles-commutation-of-sentence-should-be-changed.php
http://www.cnmilaw.org/pdf/cmc_section/T6/4251.pdf
http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/15996-taotao-tano-says-constitutional-provision-on-pardons-paroles-commutation-of-sentence-should-be-changed
He won’t go to jail, and it will be hilarious in the national and international media, and we will again look stupider and more corrupt.
NO NO NO! You do the crime you do the time. Even if it is in a hospital prison ward.
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW! NO ONE.
IF INOS GRANTS THIS PARDON He IS AS CORRUPT AS FITIAL AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND IMPEACHED!
Since FITIAL released a Federal Prisoner to massage him, I think the U.S. Attorney Needs TO Get Involved. Federal court orders were violated.
Prosecute him under federal law as his former crook Lt Governor was. What a group of corrupt politicians. With this request for a hearing for his mafioso former boss….. Inos has just tarnished his name forever!