AS part of their motion to dismiss charges against Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, his lawyers submitted as evidence a copy of a travel authorization for Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, when he was still Senate president, showing that he and his wife traveled business class to Guam to attend the inauguration of Guam Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Joshua F. Tenorio in January 2019.
The TA’s total cost was $1,619.30, for a period of travel from Jan. 6 to 8, 2019. Palacios and his wife’s itinerary showed that they travelled business class from Saipan to Guam and traveled economy from Guam to Saipan.
It was attorney Victorino Torres who submitted the TA as evidence as part of the defense’s “selective and vindictive prosecution” motion.
Attorneys Torres, Matthew Holley and Viola Alepuyo appeared on behalf of the governor before Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Alberto Tolentino for a hearing Thursday afternoon.
Attorney Torres told the court: “Regarding selective prosecution, we have a TA that shows that the lt. governor and his wife traveled business class. I honestly believe that it’s not relevant but, for selective prosecution, they [the Office of the Attorney General] raised that issue about first lady [Diann Torres] traveling [with] the [governor]…. If they continue that route, we will submit the evidence…but I don’t want to go down that route, personally, I don’t think it’s relevant.”
Chief Solicitor J. Robert Glass Jr., the prosecutor, had no objection to the submission of the TA as evidence.
“Their choice is their choice,” he added.
As for all the other motions by the parties, Judge Tolentino said, “As agreed upon by the parties the court will take these matters under advisement.”
He said he will issue the orders, and they will come out at the same time.
On April 8, 2022, the AG’s office filed a criminal case against the governor, alleging 12 counts of misconduct in public office and one count of theft relating to the issuance of airline tickets for business class, first class, or other premium class travel for himself and/or Diann T. Torres, his wife.
The complaint alleged that Torres committed “misconduct in public office” on nine occasions from April to December 2018 in connection with his purchases of business class, first class and other premium travel tickets for himself and his wife, Diann T. Torres.
The complaint included theft charges related to the governor’s travel expenses amounting to $20,000 between April 2018 and May 30, 2019, using public funds.
The case also alleged one count of contempt for failure to appear in compliance with a legislative subpoena.
The governor has denied the charges and has asked the court to dismiss them.
