One of two recipients of a senator\u2019s letter that called for an oversight hearing on the Department of Public Safety believes that it \u201cis needed\u201d not only for the police but for \u201cother agencies as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rep. Ivan A. Blanco (R-Saipan) agreed yesterday with Sen. Paul Manglo\u00f1a (Ind-Rota) that an oversight hearing on DPS has become necessary. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems to me that the only oversight we do is during the budgetary sessions. I think that open communications between the departments and the Legislature is very important because then we are able to assess what their needs are, what [the departments\u2019] shortfalls are, and what tools we could provide them,\u201d said Blanco.<\/p>\n
According to Blanco, he spoke with other members of the House Judicial and Governmental Operations Committee, which he heads, and many wish to \u201creach out\u201d to DPS Commissioner Robert Guerrero to get some facts.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026And perhaps sit down with [Guerrero] and his officers and ask questions that [the committee] may have in regards to increased criminal activity, drug abuse, etc.,\u201d he said, adding that the meeting with the DPS commissioner would be scheduled after gathering facts from the department.<\/p>\n
Blanco, who based his request for information on Manglo\u00f1a\u2019s letter, said that updates on recent criminal cases, murders, and information on missing person cases and unsolved criminal cases, among many others, are included in his request.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would like to get those numbers first, then we would be able to know what questions to ask,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want questions to be based on hearsay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Members of the House JGO include Blanco, Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) as vice chair, Reps. Francisco Aguon (R-Saipan), Edwin Aldan (R-Tinian), Blas Jonathan Attao (Ind-Saipan), Jose Itibus (R-Saipan), and minority leader Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan).<\/p>\n
In a letter dated Nov. 7 addressed to Blanco and Senate Committee on Judiciary, Government, and Law chair Sen. Steve Mesngon (R-Rota), Manglo\u00f1a said that DPS officers have failed to communicate with victims of crime, which he said is unacceptable because DPS has the \u201ccritical role of protecting people and ensuring people\u2019s safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVictims of criminal activities are complaining that their cases have not been solved and they haven\u2019t received any information or updates from DPS,\u201d Manglo\u00f1a said, adding that reports on violent criminal activities as well as drug-related crimes in the CNMI are constantly reported in the media.<\/p>\n
According to Saipan Tribune archives, the recent finding of missing Joan Taitano\u2019s body late October 2017 at the bottom of a cliff in Marpi was significant because she was found\u2014which wasn\u2019t the trend before.<\/p>\n
Dating back to 1995 and based only on Saipan Tribune archives, 17 people have been reported missing and not been found. <\/p>\n
Another factor that calls for an oversight on DPS are drug abuse and drug-related crimes, Manglo\u00f1a said. He added that drug use and abuse have \u201csignificantly increased\u201d over the past few years.<\/p>\n
According to a previous statement, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, is \u201cgenuinely concerned\u201d about public safety, and is already initiating discussions to address public safety concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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