By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

THE Department of Public Safety is searching for eight individuals who have failed to register as sex offenders with the DPS Sex Offender Registry Unit.
DPS spokeswoman Lei Ogumoro said these eight individuals are Salden S. Manuel, 41; Angel Villanueva Palacios, 34; Jose Materne Muna, 56; Renato F. Bocato; Michael Aspuria; John James Kaleb Koch, 33; Mike Smile Frances; and Rex R. Jose.
These individuals cannot be located at their last known addresses.
They are in violation of Public Law 11-104 which mandates sex offenders to report changes of address to DPS.
Sex offenders have two business days to report changes to DPS.
If a sex offender is leaving the CNMI, he must inform DPS of his departure and must register with the new state/territory no later than two business days after arrival.
DPS is urging these individuals to call the Sex Offender Registry Unit at telephone numbers 664-9042 or 664-9045 and ask for Sgt. Thomas Blas Jr. or Detective Kelly Camacho.
DPS said it is critical that these individuals be located and interviewed by the Sex Offender Registry Unit.
The assistance of the public is greatly appreciated in locating these individuals, DPS said.
These individuals are being sought not for arrest but to ensure compliance for the security of the community.
Muna and Koch are from Guam and relocated to the CNMI but have not registered with DPS.
According to DPS, there are 104 sex offenders registered in the CNMI.
Forty-nine of them have registered with DPS while 23 are still in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
DPS conducted an operation on April 20 and 21 to track down the remaining 32 offenders.
DPS conducted multiple home visits, spot checks and verification of the addresses of these 32 sex offenders.
Anyone convicted of a sexual crime is required by Public Law 11-104 to register as sex offenders with DPS.
The law mandates DPS, Adult Probation and the Office of Parole to register, update, photograph, fingerprint and keep on file information about offenders and to share, coordinate and update other law enforcement agencies.