Shayne Villanueva
LEGISLATORS, legislative legal counsels, legislative staffers and others are to be called by the prosecution and the defense as witnesses in the bench trial of Shayne Villanueva on Nov. 6.
Villanueva, who has been charged with contempt of Legislature, is the owner of Roil Soil Marketing, which the administration of then-Gov. Ralph DLG Torres contracted to help implement BOOST in 2022.
BOOST stands for “Building Optimism, Opportunities and Stability Together,” a $17 million federally funded program of the previous administration.
On March 5, 2024, Villanueva appeared before the House Special Committee on Federal Assistance & Disaster-Related Funding and invoked his Fifth Amendment right when asked questions about BOOST. After the committee found him in contempt, Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez transmitted to Attorney General Edward E. Manibusan a “certification of statement of contempt” pertaining to Villanueva.
On March 22, 2024, Villanueva self-surrendered at the Department of Corrections after an arrest warrant was issued against him for contempt. He posted a $1,000 bail for his release.
During an arraignment on April 2, 2024, Villanueva pled not guilty.
Represented by attorney Keith Chambers, Villanueva has asked the court to dismiss the contempt charge against him, saying that his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination as well as his right to counsel were violated.
In a recent 13-page order, Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja denied Villanueva’s motion to dismiss.
Witness list
Assistant Attorney General James Robert Kingman, who is prosecuting the case, submitted a witness list that includes Speaker Villagomez, Rep. Ralph N. Yumul, House Floor Leader Edwin K. Propst, Rep. Blas Jonathan “BJ” Attao, Rep. Marissa R. Flores, Rep. Vincent S. Aldan, Rep. Diego Vincent F. Camacho, Vice Speaker Joel C. Camacho, Rep. John Paul P. Sablan, Rep. Vicente C. Camacho, Rep. Angelo A. Camacho, Senate Vice President Donald Manglona, Senate Floor Leader Corina Magofna and Sen. Celina Babauta.
The prosecutor likewise listed former Reps. Sheila J. Babauta, Richard T. Lizama and Christina M. Sablan as witnesses.
Also on the list were former House legal counsel John Bradley, House legal counsel Joseph Taijeron, legislative assistant Cameron Nicholas and Sgt.-at-Arms Pedro Towai.
Chambers, for his part, said he intends to call the following to the witness stand: Kingman, Office of the Attorney General Investigator Ikluk Masayos, Towai, Propst, Attao, Yumul, Villagomez, Saipan Tribune reporter Kimberly Bautista Esmores, former Rep. Christina M. Sablan, legislative assistant Cameron Nicholas, Karen Kalen and Gina Muna.
