By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

PHIL Flores’s term as chairman of the Guam Memorial Hospital’s board of directors expired last year and the Republican-led 28th Legislature adjourned without acting on his appointment, the governor’s office said yesterday.
Flores, who is also chairman of the Guam Republican Party, confirmed that he is no longer serving on the hospital board. However, during a telephone interview, Flores didn’t mention anything about the Legislature’s failure to act on his appointment.
“Four years is enough for me. There was no moment when I didn’t enjoy serving on the board. It’s been really a wonderful experience and it’s now time for somebody else to do it,” said Flores, president of the BankPacific.
Flores assumed the GMH board chairmanship when Gov. Felix P. Camacho was first elected to office four years ago. Flores worked with then GMH administrator Bill McMillan, who stepped down from his post at the height of a controversy involving the alleged mismanagement of the hospital.
Shawn Gumataotao, special assistant to the governor, said Flores “did not resign.”
Gumataotao said the governor sent back Flores’s appointment papers to the 28th Legislature for confirmation when his appointment expired last year, but the senators didn’t act on it.
It wasn’t clear as of press time what committee handled Flores’s appointment, or if any confirmation hearing was conducted at all.
Variety could not reach key leaders of the Legislature as of press time.
Flores, meanwhile, said “I’m not the story.”
He said the progress that has taken place at GMH, such as the increased medical staff and funding subsidy, should take center stage.
“Its financial situation is much better than it used to be since the Republican Legislature started giving it more funding,” Flores said, as he thanked the governor for trusting him with the job.
“It’s been fantastic to work with people who are committed to healthcare. Despite the criticism that it gets, the hospital has been doing a great job,” he added.
Flores expressed confidence that the administration will achieve its goal to get GMH accredited this year.