Probe on Torres’ expenditures being revived

An investigation into Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ public expenditures is being resuscitated at the Legislature, with House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee chair Rep. Celina Babauta (D-Saipan) raising talks about impeachment during the House session last Friday on Capital Hill.

Babauta appealed to House Speaker Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) to refer to the JGO committee documents and report submitted by Rep. Tina Sablan (D-Saipan) on the governor’s “public expenditures, violations of law, [and] areas of abuse,” as well as recommendations for oversight and reform.

The report, prepared by the House minority bloc in the 21st Legislature, was submitted on Jan. 6, 2021.

“I continue to receive information on a weekly, if not daily basis, that government documents and properties are continuously being destroyed in an attempt perhaps to hide things or conceal evidence, so your most expeditious referral of documents that have just been introduced would be most appreciated,” Babauta said.

The JGO chair added that it would be the most sensible action the body can take, and that it is the duty of the committee to have that oversight and review of actions of government officials in the course of their duties.

“It is my purpose to determine whether the governor’s actions warrant impeachment by the House and removal by the Senate. Those judgments are constitutionally reserved for and entrusted to the legislative branch. Violations of statutes, embezzlement, unjust enrichment, and obstruction of justice by any citizen and by whatever title or office they hold are profoundly serious matters,” she added.

Article 2, Section 8 of the CNMI Constitution grants the Legislature authority to impeach executives and judicial officers of the Commonwealth subject to impeachment under the Constitution, where the House of Representatives may initiate impeachment proceedings by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members, and where the Senate may convict after hearing, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members.

In a separate interview, press secretary Kevin Bautista said the administration welcomes and has cooperated with all legitimate inquiries about the issue, but added that the timeliness of the inquiry is questionable, and the process of submitting a report during the miscellaneous section of the agenda, suspect.

“The findings from last year’s special committee report showed no finding of consequence. This has been addressed and covered multiple times. This is another blatant political attempt by the Democrats to smear the governor and this administration, while he continues to lead the work of rebuilding our economy and our COVID-19 response, which has kept the CNMI among the safest places in the world,” Bautista added.

A bipartisan special committee was already formed last year, transferring oversight to the Office of the Public Auditor, which Bautista stressed is the appropriate agency to review and investigate such matters.

“The Office of the Governor and the Department of Finance have cooperated fully in the past with last year’s Special Committee’s inquiries and hearings. The findings of the Special Committee’s draft report showed no finding of consequence. The report that was submitted was from a political faction from the last Legislature,” he said. “The people elect their public officials to legislate and help the community. So far, in 2021, Gov. Torres, Lt. Gov. [Arnold] Palacios, the House minority, the Senate leadership, the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, and the COVID-19 Task Force have been out there keeping people safe, beautifying public areas, and rebuilding the economy.”

Bautista also stated that on the flip side, Democrats in the House have kept revenue-generating bills stuck in committee and have focused only on U.S. mainland issues such as the D.C. statehood initiative that have no bearing or benefit to people in the CNMI.

“The governor and lieutenant governor continue to work with the legislative leadership in both houses to come up with solutions that actually benefit our islands. It’s unfortunate that they continue to focus on an issue from their campaign that has already been resolved by a bipartisan committee from the last Legislature,” he added.

The probe into Torres’ expenditures was reopened by the House JGO last April. In 2019, the 21st Legislature House minority bloc called to investigate allegations of public corruption, fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds by the governor. The bipartisan Special Committee on Fiscal Review of Executive Expenditures was established in July 2020 to review documents and materials received, but was unable to reach a decision, according to then-committee chair Rep. Ralph Yumul (R-Saipan).