Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, and Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo, Ind.- Saipan, abstained while Sen. Ralp DLG. Torres, R-Saipan, was absent.
Backed by Mark Hanson’s legal opinion, the Senate said Mrs. Reyes continues to be the duly appointed LB director unless and until properly removed as provided in the Article II, Section 17 of the CNMI Constitution.
But Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, said in an interview that the House leadership is not removing Mrs. Reyes.
He explained that her appointment as LB director already expired on Jan. 11, 2010 so since then, she was no longer the director.
Her contract, which was renewed after Oct. 1, “does not mean anything,” Tenorio said.
He said he can challenge those months she worked after Jan. 11, 2010 and have her return her paychecks to the government.
And even if the contract is valid, Tenorio said it still did not automatically renew on Oct. 1 because the Legislature failed to pass the budget before that day, and so no funds could be obligated for the position.
Mrs. Reyes’ contract stated that it would be automatically renewed on Oct. 1 without any further action being taken by Legislature or the director provided funds were obligated for the position by passage of a budget or by continuing resolution for fiscal year 2011.
Tenorio said he does not know where the senators are getting their ideas.
Nothing in the Constitution states that an LB director is retained by a resolution, he added.
“Don’t they know how to read the Constitution?” he asked.
He said the House leadership will decide on the LB issue by the number of votes they have.
He said they will insist on the appointment of former Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan as Mrs. Reyes’ replacement.
During the session, Mrs. Reyes’ daughter Kiana thanked the senators for supporting her mother.
She urged them to base their decision not on her mother’s relationship with the Senate floor leader but on her qualifications.
The LB director is the floor leader’s wife.
The Senate resolution said the Senate is satisfied with Mrs. Reyes’ services and wishes them to continue.
