The House minority bloc led by Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan) is still weighing their position on possible impeachment proceedings against Gov. Ralph DLG Torres amid federal investigations, while House vice speaker Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan) believes it is best to conclude the judicial process first before acting.<\/p>\n
Propst told Saipan Tribune yesterday that a statement from the House minority bloc, which is also composed of Reps. Sheila Babauta (Ind-Saipan), Cristina Sablan (Ind-Saipan), Donald Manglona (Ind-Rota), and Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), would be forthcoming.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am still working with the minority members in coming up with a unified statement to address these concerns,\u201d he said, adding that some members of the House minority bloc are currently off-island.<\/p>\n
Sablan noted in a previous interview that the Legislature has the authority to investigate other branches of the government\u2014including the Executive Branch\u2014as provided by the CNMI Constitution.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny impeachment process, should we come to that, would be separate from the criminal process, though evidence that is presented in criminal proceeding may be examined by the Legislature as well,\u201d she had said.<\/p>\n
Torres\u2019 chief of staff, Angel Demapan, said that premature talks of impeachment are \u201cself-aggrandizing\u201d and \u201cpolitical posturing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026The idea is purely politically driven and premised on self-aggrandizing motives,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Propst told Saipan Tribune in an interview yesterday that being in the minority means they \u201care free to speak from their hearts and say whatever they feel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to come out with a unified statement\u2014one that we [the minority bloc] all agree to on all terms. That is forthcoming,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Deleon Guerrero said he would be more comfortable in taking action once the investigation findings are made public.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we should be talking about [impeachment],\u201d he told Saipan Tribune. \u201cIt is all allegations and nothing is founded. There are no grounds at this point. It is very premature,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Deleon Guerrero noted that when impeachment proceedings were filed against former governor Benigno R. Fitial, ultimately resulting in his resignation, charges were already brought against him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must let the process go through. Let the judicial system go through. It\u2019s only an investigation and nothing has been proven,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants all over Saipan last Nov. 7, 2019 through Nov. 8, 2019.<\/p>\n
The FBI, along with the CNMI Office of the Public Auditor, also visited the Commonwealth Casino Commission Tuesday. CCC executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero did not disclose the reason for their visit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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