By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

PUBLIC Auditor Mike Sablan says his office, with the support of the Office of the Attorney General, will give priority attention to allegations of abuse of authority by government officials, including those at the Department of Labor whose “close” ties with the management of Nagoya Star Night Club have been the subject of labor complaints.
Sablan met with Attorney General Matthew Gregory yesterday regarding allegations of abuse of authority by government personnel, among other issues.
“(The Office of the Public Auditor) and the attorney general will not tolerate abuse of authority or any other violations of the CNMI Ethics Code which covers conflicts of interest, favoritism, nepotism, and conflicts for employment. OPA will direct priority attention to allegations involving abuse of authority and I have the full support of the attorney general,” Sablan told Variety.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said any proven violation of the CNMI Ethics Code is subject to the penalties outlined in the law.
“I am sure the (AGO) takes such violations seriously and will seriously consider any recommendations from the Office of the Public Auditor in this connection,” he said.
The CNMI Ethics Code, according to Sablan, prohibits government employees and officials with regulatory responsibilities, including enforcement responsibilities, from accepting anything of value from any entity they regulate.
“This restriction includes officials with responsibilities including enforcing CNMI laws and regulations, permitting, inspecting and other such duties and responsibilities,” he said. “In addition, individuals and entities that are regulated by CNMI government officials are prohibited by the CNMI Ethics Act from giving anything of value to those officials who regulate them.”
In the case of Labor officials and employees who have the responsibility of making sure employers and workers comply with labor laws and regulations, visits to night clubs and receipt of special treatment in exchange for favors are violations of the Ethics Code.
“We can’t draw a conclusion based on what we hear but in general, the CNMI Ethics Act prohibits giving and receiving if you are the government agency regulating or the entity being regulated,” said Sablan, when asked whether it has started formally investigating Ethics Act violations of Labor officials suspected of having close ties with the management of the Nagoya Star Night Club.
ASC Inc., doing business as Nagoya Star Night Club, will be closing on April 29 but its employees have yet to be paid up to two months of their salaries and ladies’ drink commissions promised to them, among other alleged labor violations including withholding copies of workers’ employment contracts.
Nagoya Star employees fear that if they file a labor complaint against their employer, the case may be dismissed or the investigation result in a favorable outcome for the owners and management, saying that ranking Department of Labor officials frequent the night club and are “close” to the club management.