By Gina Tabonares
Variety News Staff

ATTORNEY General Alicia Limtiaco yesterday asked the help of Public Auditor Doris Brooks in checking the financial records and purchases of the Attorney General’s Office after finding high-powered guns, ammunition, gardening tools and automotive repair and cleaning supplies, among other things, purchased by her predecessor.
Limtiaco yesterday invited Brooks to the Justice Building to show the financial records and public documents that Limtiaco said were not properly managed during the time of former Attorney General Douglas Moylan.
Limtiaco said she was astounded by how public documents were thrown all over the place, and records were in complete disarray. However, what caught her most by surprise was the presence of nine brand new AK-47 rifles, shotguns and ammunition kept in the 7th floor where the former attorney general had his office.
While it’s public knowledge that Moylan has a penchant for collecting firearms, Limtiaco said she did not expect that high-powered firearms would be sitting right inside the AGO.
The AGO’s chief administrator, Yolanda Elliott, told Variety that the rifles were purchased last year for investigators.
“In order for the investigators to get accreditation, they needed to practice shooting and that was the reason behind the purchase,” Elliott said.
She said there were no irregularities in the purchases, which are part of the AGO’s criminal investigation program.
Elliott said the firearms were in the office of the former attorney general on the seventh floor of the building because it was the only floor that has a double-locked room.
“It was the safest place to put the guns. There is no other reason why they were there,” she said.
Limtiaco, however, noted that investigators need firearms.
“We are looking into the gun purchase. We would like to find records showing why they were purchased and how much was paid for them,” Limtiaco said.
For the meantime, the new attorney general is in communication with the Guam Police Department for a possible turnover of the rifles and ammunition.
Limtiaco also expressed concern about several other items purchased without records like automotive cleaning supplies.
Elliot said the automotive cleaning supplies were purchased with orders, and all the documentation is intact in the AGO.
She said the cleaning supplies were purchased to be used to clean the AGO’s more than 15 vehicles instead of paying for the cars to be washed, thereby saving taxpayers some $800 a month.
“We bought cleaning supplies for $200 and we told those who drove the vehicles to be responsible for maintaining them. We were able to save $600 a month for that alone. What is wrong with that?” Elliot asked.
Limtiaco said she is very troubled by the lack of financial controls and financial management by the former attorney general, prompting her to seek the advice of the Office of the Public Auditor.
“As part of the transition process, I would like to get all the records and reconcile everything but I was surprised by the disarray and the unnecessary purchases,” she added.
Limtiaco said there would be meetings with OPA to check the financial records of the AGO, as she looks forward to developing and implementing a systematic way of managing the AGO’s financial records.