By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

SENATOR Frank Blas Jr., R-Barrigada, asked the Camacho administration yesterday to quickly resolve the dilemma that the Guam Board of Medical Examiners is facing as a result of new appointments and the dismissal of old members.
“The administration is pretty much aware of the situation and the legal questions that have been raised by members. There seem to be too many people on the board,” said Blas, chairman of the legislative health committee, which has oversight of the medical board.
The controversy stemmed from Gov. Felix P. Camacho’s decision to replace the old board members, including its former chairman Dr. Jerone Landstrom, with new appointees, Dr. Patrick Santos, Dr. Ronald Kobayashi and Dr. Ricardo Eusebio, now the board’s new chairman.
Landstrom cited two legal opinions that upheld his stay on the board for another year. Last week’s GBME meeting was filled with tension triggered by legal issues that members had to deal with.
“This is something that is still very fresh and I would like the administration to deal with this immediately lest it hinders the medical care for our people,” Blas said.
Dr. George Macris, who has a pending complaint against Lt. Gov. Mike Cruz at the GBME, is asking the Attorney General’s Office and the Legislature to step into the board row and take action.
“At this point, we will not take any legislative action. I am in communication with the lieutenant governor to ask for clarification of the issue,” Blas said.
“I want to give the executive branch the opportunity to resolve this issue. If legislative action is necessary, then I will take care of it,” he added.
While maintaining that he is still a legitimate member of the medical board, Landstrom said he has yet to decide whether or not to bring his case to court.
During last week’s meeting, board members agreed to allow Landstrom to stay on and participate in the voting process, hoping to resolve the legal question either through the governor’s final say or through court intervention.
“I believe that legal arguments will work in my favor, but I have not made decision whether or not to bring the case to court. If I do, I know the governor’s office will contest it and I don’t have the resources to pay the cost of litigation,” Landstrom told Variety.
According to the legal opinions issued separately by assistant attorney general Seaton Woodley and attorney Jefffrey Cook, a board member may be removed only if he is unqualified for the job, convicted of a crime, found mentally incompetent, found in violation of the Physicians Practice Act or misses three successive board meetings.
Other board members who received walking papers were Patricia Taimanglao, who had two more years to serve, Dr. Alex Chenet and Dr. Arthur Lorezel, whose terms will both expire next month, and Dr. Byung Soo Kim, whose term has expired.