He said they resigned for different reasons that have nothing to do with “nepotism and favoritism” at his office.
Of the six, the mayor added, two went off-island, one is in the U.S. with his relatives, two are taking care of their sick parents, and one decided to stay at home.
“They resigned voluntarily,” he said, adding that he never threatened them that their contracts would not be renewed if they didn’t perform well.
Asked about the hiring of his relatives, Tudela said: “Everybody can hire anyone and no one can prevent us and that’s happening even at the governor’s office.”
He didn’t elaborate.
Michael K. Somorang, one of the six workers who have resigned, told Variety yesterday that he quit due to a “personal” reason.
His resignation took effect on July 18 and his one-year contract should have expired next month.
Rep. Tina Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, said if it is true that the workers resigned because of unfair treatment then “they should be commended.”
Sablan said she also received complaints about the “improper spending” of Liberation Day funds by the mayor’s office.
There were “questionable” disbursements of funds that the Saipan legislative delegation wants the mayor’s office to explain, she said.
Tudela has yet to submit the financial report for this year’s Liberation Day celebrations.
Sablan also questioned the way the mayor’s office spends money on new supplies and equipment each year.
“They’ve been purchasing the same materials year after year,” she noted.
The Saipan legislative delegation has deferred the adoption of a resolution appropriating $50,000 for the Liberation Day celebrations in 2009 pending the submission of the financial report for this year’s festivities.
For his part, Rep. Joseph C. Reyes, R-Saipan, has asked the Office of the Public Auditor to audit the mayor’s expenditures during the Liberation Day celebrations.
