By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

GOVERNMENT workers who are found guilty of illegally reprogramming public funds will now be held personally liable for the offense with the enactment of House Bill 15-108.
Governor Benigno R. Fitial signed the new law on April 23, saying the cash-strapped government will not tolerate any abuse of public funds.
“I am pleased to approve this measure as it addresses another form of abuse of public funds by government employees. Abuse of public funds in any manner should neither be ignored nor tolerated,” said the governor in his transmittal letter to the Legislature.
“There must be accountability by government employees who disregard the law and illegally reprogram funds for which the Legislature has not made an appropriation,” he added.
H.B. 15-108, which is now Public Law 15-54, was authored by Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan.
The House passed the measure on Sept. 27, 2006. The Senate approved it on March 8, 2007.
Babauta said his bill was designed to increase accountability on the part of government officials as well as in the local reprogramming process.
Six years ago, the Office of the Public Auditor found an official of the Office of Management and Buget guilty of violating the procurement process by improperly reprogramming funds to buy a 68-ft. vessel for $350,000 in 1995.
Despite findings that the official violated the procurement process, he wasn’t held liable for his action due to the lack of a law holding him personally liable for the offense.
Fitial praised the Legislature for passing H.B. 15-108.
“I commend the Legislature for continuing to identify and pass legislation to address all forms of illegal activity by government employees,” he said.