Former Gov. Juan N. Babauta, former Lt. Gov. Jesus C. Borja, former Rep. Joseph N. Camacho and incumbent Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan were asked by the retirees about the issues faced by the troubled retirement system.
Each were given only one minute to answer each of the five questions.
Most of the retirees who attended the forum did not want to “rate” the candidates based on their answers.
Juan M. Sablan, president of Commonwealth Retirement Association, which organized the forum, said the candidates answered all the questions “really well.”
He said it looked like all retirees were satisfied with the response of the candidates, “and I hope the retirees would digest the answers.”
Juan Sablan noted that all the four candidates are in favor of a pension obligation bond for the Retirement Fund.
He believes only very few retirees oppose it.
Public School System financial director Richard Waldo said he is also in favor of the pension obligation bond and the positions of all the four candidates pleased him.
Former teacher Ambrose Bennet said, for the most part, he is satisfied with the candidates’ answers to the questions.
He also believes that the CNMI needs to do something about the Fund’s problems.
Northern Marianas College instructor Sam McPhetres said each candidate tried his best to answer each question despite the very limited time.
“But this is a good starting point,” he said, referring to the forum.
The CNMI’s first Washington representative, Ed Pangelinan, said the candidates made good presentations. He commends all the candidates for their good answers.
