An emotional Georgia Muna Cabrera, the acting commissioner of the Department of Corrections, faced the Senate yesterday during a hearing on her appointment to the department\u2019s top post.<\/p>\n
Cabrera, who was nominated to the post by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres early this month, received overwhelming support, despite her nerves, from those who spoke during a public comment period yesterday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is one of those moments that I am nervous,\u201d she told senators yesterday. \u201cPlease excuse me, I am really shaking,\u201d <\/p>\n
Cabrera, who began her time at Corrections in 1995, said through hard work and dedication she worked her way up the ranks. Cabrera is currently ranked as captain.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficers and staff are the backbone of the department and I will not forget where I came from,\u201d Cabrera said.<\/p>\n
The acting commissioner assured senators that she would do what is in the best interest of the department, the CNMI, and the Corrections inmates, saying that she asked the lord for strength and wisdom everyday to overcome obstacles.<\/p>\n
Robert Guerrero, Department of Public Safety commissioner and the most recent Corrections commissioner, lauded Cabrera for rising through challenges, and acknowledged some of these may have been discriminated because of her sex.<\/p>\n
No one knows the facility more than Cabrera, Guererro said. \u201cShe was mean but she was fair. I\u2019ve seen firsthand how she took personal interest in the men and women of the department.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guerrero called Cabrera \u201cnosy\u201d but added this was \u201cgood,\u201d and that Cabrera \u201cknew everything that needs to be done\u201d at the department to ensure the welfare of inmates.<\/p>\n
Erlinda Naputi, acting Joeten Kiyu Public Library director and Cabrera\u2019s sister, shared the sacrifices Cabrera made to help their ailing grandparents, saying that her sister took a job as a cashier while in school and then went on to serve in the U.S. military, where she sent a monthly allowance to the family.<\/p>\n
Naputi said that in 1991, with \u201ca heavy heart\u201d Cabrera left the military to continue to take care of her grandparents and siblings and in 1995 joined Corrections, where she rose in ranks from corrections officer 1, to corrections officer 2, to sergeant, then to lieutenant, and then captain.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are proud of her achievements,\u201d Naputi said.<\/p>\n
John Manglona, of Grace Christian Church, said the inmates in Bible study asked him to show his support of Cabrera.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s good, she goes by the book,\u201d Manglona said, relaying what the inmates told him.<\/p>\n
Gregorio M. Sablan Jr., director of the Veterans Affairs Office and Cabrera\u2019s brother, said \u201cthis little rascal\u201d before them served the country both in peace and in wartime.<\/p>\n
Sablan said Cabrera would sometimes seek the advice of their father, who has since passed.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeorgia,\u201d Sablan said, recalling their father\u2019s words, \u201cleadership is not about titles and positions, leadership is about actions and taking care of people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything that we do,\u201d Sablan said, \u201cwe prefer our actions do the talking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nora Sablan, a member of Cabrera\u2019s high school graduating class, said Cabrera wouldn\u2019t have been there if she wasn\u2019t the \u201cnosy one. \u201cThe one to ask questions, the one who does her homework,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Senators also took turns applauding the acting commissioner.<\/p>\n
Senate vice president Arnold Palacios (R-Saipan) came away impressed with the \u201chuman dimension\u201d or human story of Cabrera, saying that he\u2019s sat through a bunch of hearings on appointments in his short time in the Senate \u201cbut I have never heard of a testimonial on the personal side of a nominee.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI am impressed by the personal sacrifices that you made for your siblings and your family\u201d and professional development, Palacios said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have seen and done,\u201d Sen. Justo Quitugua (Ind-Saipan) also said, \u201c[now you need to do] what needs to be seen and done in the Department of Corrections.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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