FORMER Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig on Thursday appeared before the joint House committee that is looking into the Building Optimism, Opportunities, and Stability Together or BOOST program, but only to inform its members that he was still seeking a private attorney and would not be able to testify.
“Again, thank you for granting my request to reschedule my hearing [so I can] secure legal representation to be present with me to testify before your joint committee,” he said.
He added that he was trying to retain an attorney, “but due largely to the holidays, I am having a hard time doing so.”
Atalig said he would like to fully cooperate with the House joint committee, but all the attorneys that he had talked to had advised him not to testify until he secured legal representation.
“I must wait until I have the benefit of having legal counsel as approved by the AG,” he said, referring to the Office of the Attorney General which had authorized Atalig “to obtain outside legal counsel.”
Atalig also informed the joint committee that he will be off-island next week for a medical trip and won’t be back until January.
In response, House Ways and Means Chairman Donald Manglona, the co-chair of the joint committee, said “due to extra ordinary circumstances, your request for additional time is hereby granted, but please be reminded that you are still under subpoena and the committee further reserves the right to call you in future time.”
Rep. Tina Sablan, a member of the joint committee, said she would like to find out about the status of the documents that Atalig was commanded to submit to the joint committee.
She said the matter is still unresolved and Atalig is still required to comply with the subpoena duces tecum.
For her part, House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Chair Celina Babauta who co-chairs the joint committee, said they have patiently provided Atalig with more accommodations than any other witnesses.
She said they have repeatedly granted his extension requests. “I hope that he is not [trying to] avoid this body or let the clock run out.”
She added, “I want to assure everybody and the people that our hope is not lost. We have not run out of options. We still have witnesses to call in. We will make sure that Atalig answers questions as to his involvement with BOOST…when he returns [from his off-island trip] or when the next Legislature convenes. He may have dodged today’s hearing, but he cannot elude this problem forever.”
Babauta at the same time said Commerce Secretary Edward M. Deleon Guerrero and Commerce Economic Development Director Jesus Taisague are scheduled to appear before the joint committee at 10 a.m. Friday and will be represented by the AG’s office.
She said “it is in your best interest to come when we summon you, when we tell you…to appear” before the joint committee.
Atalig was one of the three members of the BOOST application review panel. The other two are Commerce Secretary Deleon Guerrero and Office of the Governor Chief of Staff Wil Castro who has already appeared before the joint committee.
The BOOST program, which is federally funded, aims to “support the viability of those businesses and the employment opportunities they offer residents of the CNMI, to further the government’s goal of a diverse economy, and to increase Commonwealth tax revenues.”
Former Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig speaks to members of a House joint committee in the House chamber on Thursday.
