Lawmakers already signing off on new letter naming LB chief
Reporter
Members of the House of Representatives and Senate have started signing off on a new letter affirming the removal of Glenna Reyes as Legislative Bureau director effective Sept. 30 and the appointment of Melchor Mendiola in her stead effective Oct. 1
Those who signed off on the letter expressed their respective house leadership’s decision to remove Reyes pursuant to Article 2 Section 17(d) of the CNMI Constitution.
Leadership and concurring members also expressed concurrence and adoption of the House and Senate leaderships’ appointment of Mendiola as LB director.
Only 16 members of the House and Senate leadership decided on Sept. 29 to remove Reyes and appoint Mendiola as LB director.
With the new letter, all 20 members of the House and the nine members of the Senate are able to participate in the decision.
Reyes, whose contract expired on Sept. 30, complained last week that there was a lack of participation of the entire membership of each house in replacing her during a closed-door meeting that she said was in violation of the Open Government Act.
There’s still no telling whether Senate floor leader Pete Reyes (R-Saipan) would recuse himself from participating since he is the husband of Glenna Reyes.
As of yesterday, sources said that “at least 10 or 11” House members have already signed off on the letter. At least 11 House members and at least five Senate members are needed.
Only Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan) agreed to go on record saying he’s not signing off on the letter. But he thought that what transpired and was decided during the Sept. 29 meeting was official and final.
Others from the House and Senate confirmed signing the document but requested that their names not be published at this time.
Some of them said the issue was “too sensitive,” they didn’t want to “hurt” other members, or they’re related to the parties involved.
Reyes, in a letter to House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan) and Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota), said she is on personal leave and has designated Mendiola to take charge of LB matters while she’s on leave.
