Taxpayers also paid $82,909 for four vehicles assigned to the Legislative Bureau and two more lawmakers, a report from the Division of Procurement and Supply showed.
The term of office of each House lawmaker is two years. Senators serve for four years.
Their leased vehicles are returned to the vendor or sometimes lawmakers opt to buy them at lesser cost.
Melinda Sakai, property management reported in the 2008 CNMI motor vehicle physical inventory, 15 of the cars being leased or purchased were from Joeten Motors and the remaining five were from Microl Corp.
In her report, Sakai also identified a 1990 Toyota Lexus purchased for $4,000 back in the 13th Legislature as the only unaccounted government vehicle.
“As you can see on the report, Ms. Mel Takai only identified one vehicle as unlocated. As per our record, no transfer was requested by Rep. Stanley T. Torres but Ms. Takai has notified their office as of (July 8),” wrote Procurement and Supply Director Herman S. Sablan to Legislative Bureau Director Joaquin Omar.
Torres, R-Saipan, told Variety he turned over the car to former Rep. Crispin Ogo, Covenant-Saipan, who lost in his Senate bid last November.
The car was later found parked on the Legislature’s parking lot.
“I’m cleared,” said Torres.
According to the report, the LB spent $46,695 for a 2003 Kia Sorente and 2004 Nissan Frontier XE/CCAB.
Rep. Raymond N. Palacios’s office spent $17,131 for a 2004 Ford Ranger XL. On top of that, the government pays $595 a month for a Nissan Sentra he is leasing from Joeten Motors.
A 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4×2 was listed as purchased for Senate President Pete P. Reyes at $19,083.
Reyes earlier criticized the government’s car records, describing them as inaccurate.
In a letter to the editor published on June 17, he said: “Throughout my public service, I have never leased a vehicle for my office. In fact, I cannot remember ever leasing a car, including for my personal and private use.”
Each lawmaker is paid over $39,000 a year. Each is also entitled to a miscellaneous fund of up to $155,000 a year to run their respective offices, including leasing vehicles and providing for its gasoline.
The lawmakers currently leasing vehicles using public funds are: Rep. Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan, a beige Ford 2007 Ranger Cab; Rep. Edward T. Salas, R-Saipan, a blue 2008 Toyota Rav 4; Rep. Edwin P. Aldan, Covenant-Tinian, a radium 2006 Nissan Sentra; Rep. Francisco S. Dela Cruz, Covenant-Saipan, granite 2005 Nissan Pathfinder; Rep. Joseph C. Reyes, R-Saipan, white 2007 Honda CRV; Rep. Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan, white 2006 Toyota Rav 4; House Minority Leader Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan, silver Honda 2006 Ridgeline; Rep. Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan, beige 2005 Honda Element; Rep. Ralph DLG Torres, gray 2007 Ford; Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan, silver 2008 Honda CRV; Sen. Jude Hofschneider, R-Tinian, silver 2006 Nissan Frontier; Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas, Covenant-Tinian, white 2006 Nissan Sentra; Sen. Paterno S. Hocog, R-Rota, blue 2007 Toyota Highlander, and; Senate Vice President Felix T. Mendiola, silver 2007 Toyota Yaris.
One more vehicle is listed under the name of “Rep. Joseph Mendiola” — a blue 2004 Ford Explorer costing the government $800 a month in lease, but Mendiola is a senator not a House member.
Authorities could not be immediately reached to clarify this.
Sen. Joseph Mendiola, Covenant-Tinian, has no car leased or purchased under his name in a May 2008 car inventory obtained by Variety.
