Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres said last week that his use of first class or business class travel for his and the first lady\u2019s official trip to several places in the U.S. mainland in 2017 had been approved by the Department of Finance. <\/p>\n
During a news briefing last Friday when he was asked to comment on his 2017 trip, which the House of Representatives Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee had issues with in its investigation of Torres\u2019 travels and expenditures, Torres said his request for that travel was processed and reviewed by Finance.<\/p>\n
The governor said they turned in the agenda and other papers for that trip and Larrisa Larson, who was the then-Finance secretary, approved it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they Finance) see it\u2019s proper, they sign it and they go through it. And if they don\u2019t see it proper, then they\u2019ll deny it,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
A recent JGO Committee hearing cited documents pertaining to Torres and first lady Diann T. Torres\u2019 trip from June 23, 2017, to July 2, 2017, from Saipan to Portland, Oregon; Kalispell, Montana; and Boise, Idaho. Rep. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan) said the first couple traveled first class and business class and that, according to the documents, the airfare alone cost the government more than $23,000, with ticket fare at $11,651 each. The governor and the first lady were accompanied by two personal security detail personnel in that trip.<\/p>\n
according to Torres\u2019 travel authorization, the purpose of that trip was to meet with U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials in Oregon on the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument and to attend the 2017 Western Governors Association in Whitefish, Montana.<\/p>\n
Torres disclosed that he sent a request letter to travel to Tinian two weeks ago in order to attend a funeral, but Finance denied it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s fine. I\u2019m not complaining,\u201d said Torres, noting that, according to Finance, it has to be a state funeral or any travel has to be an official travel. <\/p>\n
The governor said he understands because Finance is only doing its work.<\/p>\n
Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig confirmed at the same news briefing that they indeed denied Torres\u2019 request for such a travel. Atalig said he was not aware of it but learned that their staff was only doing their job.<\/p>\n
He said regulations dictate that official travel for funerals must be for state funerals.<\/p>\n
He said if the governor needed to attend a funeral, then that\u2019s considered a personal reason and not a government reason.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that was denied and I believe he [Torres] went ahead on his own accord,\u201d Atalig said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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