Atalig, in his Open Government Act request to Tinian Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz, said all public information and records regarding the hiring of former Sen. Jose M. Dela Cruz, the mayor’s brother, should be disclosed.
“It is disappointing that during these trying and bad economic times, nepotism blatantly continues to thrive under your administration,” Atalig told the mayor, in a letter dated Jan. 10, 2011.
Atalig said the mayor hired former Senator Dela Cruz for $40,000 a year “at the expense of the Tinian residents.”
He said the mayor’s brother is prohibited from working for the government for a period of 10 years from the date of conviction.
The former senator was convicted in 2003 of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a case involving a ghost employee.
Atalig said based on the mayor’s “conduct and decision in attempting to allow [his brother] to work and receive money from the government, it appears that it has been the intention of your administration to violate and/or circumvent the law in order to enrich your family members.”
Atalig said based on his initial assessment of the documents disclosed by the mayor in compliance with the Open Government Act, he found the mayor’s handling of local funds to be “deficient.”
He said despite the mayor’s assertion that “there is no money,” the mayor still hired his brother.
“All of a sudden there is money,” Atalig added.
He said the people of Tinian deserve “better ethical leadership and better judgment in these times of uncertainties.”
The Variety was unable to get a comment from the mayor.
