ATTORNEY Matthew Holley told the Superior Court last week that conflict of interest waivers are in place for his client, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, and government witnesses Frances M. Dela Cruz and Jomalyn Gelacio.
The Office of the Attorney General, representing the CNMI government, has 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 first lady Diann T. Torres. The AG’s office also alleges one count of contempt for the governor’s failure to appear before a House committee in compliance with a legislative subpoena.
The governor has pled not guilty to the charges.
Holley said he filed the notice that waivers of conflict of interest are in place “to further assist the court in its decision on the Government’s motion to disqualify attorneys Viola Alepuyo and Anthony H. Aguon” who also represent the governor.
If instructed by the court, Holley said he is prepared to submit for review copies of the executed waivers, and if further instructed, redacted versions of the waivers can be provided to the Office of the AG.
Chief Solicitor J. Robert Glass Jr. of the OAG has asked the court to look into possible conflicts of interest in the representation of the governor by attorneys Viola Alepuyo and Anthony Aguon who have also represented two government witnesses.
Alepuyo represented Dela Cruz, the governor’s executive assistant, in connection with the hearing held by the House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee as part of its investigation of the governor’s public expenditures.
Aguon, for his part, represented Gelacio who also appeared before the House committee. Gelacio, a police officer, served as a member of the first lady’s protective security detail.
Judge Pro Tem Alberto E. Tolentino will hear the government’s conflict of interest motion on May 31 at 9 a.m.
