By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Insisting that President Remengesau had a hand in the recent reorganization in the House that forced their way into what is now the minority bloc, Delegates Joel Toribiong and Kerai Mariur yesterday accused the new HOD leadership of controlling media and called upon them to be fair and honest.
Toribiong, Mariur and former Speaker Augustine Mesebeluu met reporters in an impromptu press conference at the new 123 Restaurant along Lebuu St. to air their grievances regarding what they call as "Marcos style" of leadership referring to the unpopular dictatorial regime of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.
This after the videotape of last Wednesday’s session of the House had been "confiscated" and not shown on television.
In that session, Toribiong and Mariur said the new HOD leaders have apparently wanted to edit the portion in which they said they were just voicing their concern regarding a bill to amend the law the seeks to raise the salary of the president, the vice president, the Ministers and reduced the salary of the doctors.
Toribiong and Mariur were referring to newly installed Speaker Antonio Bells, Vice Speaker Noah Idechong and Floor Leader Sabino Anastacio. The first two are their former allies, whom they said were hooked by Remengesau, when he went house to house to pressure the Delegates to go in his side.
However, a source, who preferred not to be identified, said that there was miscommunication and that the tape was scheduled to be shown as of presstime last night with the unedited version because there were portions that must not be shown to the public.
The same source also said that the HOD has the right to do so.
Toribiong said that there is no transparency in the new leadership saying that after the session, someone, a lady whom they did not identify, confiscated the tape.
"It’s clear that they’re controlling the news like Marcos did in the Philippines," Toribiong said.
"We have nothing personal against them. We’re just representing everyone who are trying to survive because the people start asking about that reorganization and we have the responsibility to tell them what is happening,’ Toribiong said.
The controversial bill was introduced by Bells (HB No. 7-89-5), which was passed on second reading.
The report of the committee on Ways and Means and Financial Matters, formely chaired by Bells and now under Mario Gulibert, explained that it is necessary to adjust the existing level of compensation allocated to the offices of the president from $50,000 to $75,000 and the Vice President from $45,000 to $55,000 with an increase of 20 percent.
The bill also seeks to raise each Minister’s salary from $30,000 to $45,000, which would result to 50 percent increase in salary.
The committee report also explained that the salary for each full-time employee who works as a medical doctor for the Ministry of Health will receive a base salary of $61,942 plus an optional 50 percent differential for those employees who qualify.
It further explained that this provision sets a lower base salary but it eliminates that maximum salary cap of the current law.
The committee said that the salary increases are both warranted and fair.
Toribiong, on his part, insisted that this is not the right time to raise the salary especially that fuel charges gone up.
He said that it is saddening that the regular employees receive about $6,000 and with it could not cope-up with the current lifestyles while there is a move to give the President, the vice President and the Minister bigger takes.
Meanwhile, Toribiong and Mariur said all the employees, except the clerk and Sgt.-at-Arms, are being asked to submit courtesy resignation.
They said that the new Hod leaders have the political will to dot that but "if you look at the moral side of it, I think they have to be fair and honest."
Toribiong said that even the HOD Legal Counsel Imelda Nakamura is being pressured to resign.