“They have access to the records of our children yet they are not legitimate members of SHEFA board,” one of the parents said, referring to Camacho and Sablan.
A local law firm and the legal counsel of the House of Representative came out with separate opinions concerning the legitimacy of the two members’ appointments.
The legal opinions indicated that the two must be renominated to serve on the board.
Then-SHEFA adviser William S. Torres said Camacho and Sablan could not serve on the board because the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation did not act on their nominations within the 90-day period.
During a recent board meeting, Camacho questioned the legal opinion sought by then-board chairwoman Felicidad T. Ogumoro without the board’s approval, but new board chairman Jose C. Mafnas said they have to put the issue to rest.
One of the parents interviewed by this reporter said the Attorney General’s Office should now get involved and come up with an opinion “to resolve the issue once and for all.”
Rep. Francisco S. Dela Cruz, R-Saipan, has urged the delegation chairman, Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan, to hasten the resolution of this controversy.
Dela Cruz said the issue should have been referred to the AGO before SHEFA sought a legal opinion from a private law firm and the House legal counsel.
“It would have been better to get the AG’s opinion before hiring a private law firm,” he added.
Dela Cruz believes that Camacho and Sablan should be nominated again by the Saipan mayor.
