FOUR staff members of the administration say they welcome the Office of the Public Auditor’s investigation regarding their salary levels.
Special Assistant for Customs and Quarantine Francisco I. Taitano, the governor’s executive secretary Celina R. Babauta, senior policy advisor Robert J. Schwalbach and personal assistant Trini T. Berdon said OPA’s investigation will help “clear” everything.
The four were given annual salaries above the salary caps for their positions.
Taitano said the governor should be allowed to “implement what is good for the commonwealth.”
Schwalbach “agrees completely” with Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente who earlier said that the administration “is not hiding anything” regarding its hiring practices.
“This administration welcomes any investigation. We have nothing to hide and we certainly want to abide by the law,” Schwalbach said.
Celina Babauta is willing to have her credentials scrutinized.
She clarified, however, that her salary is lower than her predecessor.
“And technically, everything is within the law here. Public Law 11-41 caps the executive secretary’s salary at $30,000 a year, but every administration that comes in also has the authority to hire its own people,” she said.
Babauta said the government will save money on her and Berdon since they will not get housing allowances.
Berdon, in a separate interview, said her $50,000 annual salary is much less than what she received as fiscal officer of the Washington Representative’s Office.
“I sacrificed everything to come here and help the governor. I could have worked with (Washington Rep.) Pete Tenorio so I would not lose my $74,000 salary per annum, but I want to serve the CNMI here,” Berdon added.
Berdon is confident that OPA’s investigation will “clear and clarify everything.”
