THE Commonwealth Casino Commission is not “silent” about the unfortunate situation of Imperial Pacific International’s remaining employees whose salaries had been delayed, Commission Chairman Edward C. Deleon Guerrero said on Thursday.
He said some members of the community have asked the commissioners, “What are you doing, regulators? Are you just watching?”
Deleon Guerrero said the commission cannot discuss matters pertaining to IPI due to the temporary restraining order issued by the District Court for the NMI. “We are prohibited from discussing what we have previously discussed every month, and that includes asking IPI for an update of just about everything that they do.”
Until recently, he said, the casino commission heard reports from IPI officials on the construction update, employment status and the current employees’ situation including their payroll and working conditions.
“That was every month,” Deleon Guerrero said. Today, the commission is not able to ask IPI anything.
But he said the commission continues to monitor IPI’s payroll.
Commission Executive Director Andrew Yeom on Thursday reported to the commissioners that according to IPI Human Resource Senior Advisor Reddie Dela Cruz, IPI’s payroll “is fully up-to-date as of August 12, 2022, which was the last pay period.” That covers five pay periods, Yeom said.
“[I’m] glad to hear that the employees have been fully paid, but this is an ongoing matter that remains to be monitored into the future, which starts with tomorrow’s payroll,” he added.
Today, Friday, Aug. 26, is payday for IPI’s employees composed of seven security guards and several administrative staff including Dela Cruz.
As for the TRO, Yeom said he is waiting for the federal court’s written order to come out, “so that we can clearly understand the exact ruling and then, we’ll decide our next course of action.”
Meantime, he said, “I hope that our attorney from the AG’s office who has been working hard on this case can briefly share her understanding of the court ruling with us.”
Commissioner Martin Mendiola said the commission has suffered, too, due to IPI’s failure to meet its obligations, yet the commission cannot revoke IPI’s license and cannot even discuss the matter.
“It’s unfair,” he added.
From left, front row, Commonwealth Casino Commissioners Martin Mendiola and Mario Taitano, chairman Edward C. Deleon Guerrero, vice chairman Ralph Demapan and commissioner Ramon Dela Cruz, during a meeting Thursday in the commission’s conference room at Springs Plaza in Gualo Rai. Behind them is IT manager Ian Morell.
