By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE burglary of its office on July 31 has prompted the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council to push the implementation of the neighborhood watch task force created by a municipal ordinance whose legality is being challenged by the House of Representatives.
In an interview, Saipan Council Chairwoman Marian DLG. Tudela said the incident shows that thieves are now getting bolder that they don’t spare even a government office, hence the need for a group of vigilant residents to take care of their own neighborhoods.
Municipal council administrative assistant Louise Pangelinan said they lost the computer she was using to still unknown suspects.
The burglary, according to the Department of Public Safety, was reported at 7:47 a.m. on July 31 by the council whose office is located in Chalan Kanoa.
Tudela said the municipal council members and staffers are trying to determine who the perpetrators were.
The neighborhood watch task force, she added, should now be operational.
But Pangelinan said the government agencies that were supposed to name task force members have yet to submit names.
The supposed task force, as created by the municipal ordinance signed by Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela early this year, will be composed of representatives from his office, the Department of Public Safety, the Junior ROTC, the Youth Congress and the Marianas Visitors Authority.
“We are still waiting for them to come up with nominations,” Pangelinan said.
Former police chief Ramon Jose Blas “RB” Camacho, who had earlier expressed interest in handling the neighborhood watch task force, has filed his candidacy for one of the three Saipan municipal council seats.
Besides Camacho, the other candidates on Saipan are Antonio H. Borja, Chairwoman Marian DLG. Tudela and Vice Chairwoman Antonia Tudela.