By Moneth G. Deposa
and Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

REX Palacios, chairman of the 6th Micronesian Games Organizing Committee, said they will no longer accept transactions for the quadrennial event almost a year after the NMI hosted the meet.
“Micro Games is closed and it’s not an issue for me now. I moved on with my life,” Palacios said during the state of the commonwealth address of the governor on April 27.
He added he had closed any transactions about the event, including vendors who are still claiming payment for their services.
With Palacios’ announcement, several sports associations and government agencies have expressed concerns for the non payment of services and expenses incurred during the weeklong meet.
Baseball president Rose Igitol said the committee still owes them $3,200, which was used to purchase balls.
Igitol said the request for purchase was submitted even before the Games started, but because the committee has yet to release the money, the baseball association was forced to borrow from NMASA.
“We we’re the first federation to submit an invoice for an expenditure for the Micro Games. It was approved by the committee. Rex took the invoice and he said this will be taken care off, it has been approved by the committee,” Igitol said. “Why has it not been paid, that’s question he has to answer.”
“Everything that has to be paid for baseball have been turned it. Even during the Games, every invoice, I personally take it to the Micro Games office and turned them in. He (Palacios) will sign and approved it, then he would give it to Rosie Pangelinan to cut the check. When I leave that office, I am thinking that the check will be cut, because it was approved,” Igitol said.
Palacios in earlier interviews with the Variety repeatedly said that they could not pay vendors/associations for non-compliance of required papers, such as invoices and other documents. He added that documents/invoices are also subject for review.
Tony Rogolifoi, chairman of the sports committee, said majority of the sports associations have submitted their reports and its now the call of the chairman to release information relating to the Games.
“Everybody wants to see the financial picture of the games, it’s his call, he has all the information,” Rogolifoi said.
But Palacios said all reports from the different committees and sports associations for the disclosure of the final report of the Games.
“The committee members don’t want to help and they can perpetuate the crisis but as far as I am concerned, I have moved on in my life and no longer pay attention to the games,” Palacios said.
“Why should I be held hostage when each federation will take care of their own. We took care of ours,” Igitol said.
Aside from baseball, volleyball and golf and two government agencies have yet to receive payments from the Micro Games.
Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association president Jon Cramer in an email to the Variety said “I have been in contact with Rex and he assures me that they are working
towards paying the NMIVA/PIC debt of $1,979.50.”
MGOC still owes the golf committee $1,700, which will be paid for expenses during the tournament at the LaoLao Bay and Coral Ocean Point.
A Department of Public Works said MGOC has yet to pay them for services rendered before and during the Games.
Variety called DPW Secretary Jose S. Demapan to confirm this, but he has yet to response at press time.
PSS acting finance secretary Tim Thornburgh in a telephone interview said they have yet to receive any payment from MGOC.
MGOC owed PSS $42,188.82.
MGOC owed PSS $35,995.75 in overtime compensation of its personnel, who are mostly drivers who transported participants to and from the venues and the Athletes Village.
The remaining $6,193.06 are for fuel charges. PSS used its buses to transports Micro Games participants.
PSS informed MGOC of the charges through a letter sent to Palacios. The letter was dated Aug. 23, 2006 and was received by MGOC on Aug. 28.
Meanwhile, Palacios said that all the equipment/materials/facilities used at the Micro Games are placed in a storage facility owned by a Sablan family.
“I know it’s not just the money (they are after) but everything about the Micro Games. Where do they think I will put those toilets?” Palacios said.
“They are all in a warehouse and once the CNMI government wants to use of those stuff, these are available because these are government property because they are procured under the micro games fund,” he said in a previous interview, adding that the committee is not paying any single cent for the storage facility.