FORMER Marianas District Legislature and Congress of Micronesia member Felipe Q. Atalig is seeking compensation for his son’s property in Susupe that he said was taken but never utilized by the CNMI government.
Atalig, who was also a delegate to the NMI’s first constitutional convention in 1976, said he was appointed by his son, Ron Atalig who now who lives in Hawaii, through a special power of attorney, to take any and all action necessary regarding Ron Atalig’s property located at the corner of Sulo Street and Katdumi Lane in Susupe.
The 956-square meter property was certified by then-Gov. Benigno R. Fitial for acquisition on March 22, 2012. The CNMI government wanted to use the property as a parking area for a Susupe Social Hall that the Fitial administration planned to construct in the area.
Ron Atalig acknowledged the acquisition request and allowed the CNMI government to enter his property and conduct a survey and site inspection.
The 17th Legislature then adopted House Resolution 17-93 requesting the Department of Public Lands to negotiate the compensation or land exchange for the taking of the private property adjacent to the Susupe social hall.
Ron Atalig informed the government that he preferred monetary compensation for the taking of his property.
The construction of the parking lot did not materialize but in April 2018, the 20th Legislature expressed interest in constructing a satellite clinic of Kagman Community Health Center on the property.
However, on Jan. 8, 2020, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres informed then-Department of Public Lands Secretary Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo, that the Department of Public Works “has reviewed the previous certification and associated supporting documents and has determined that there will no longer be a necessity for the acquisition of the property by the government for public purposes.”
Also on the same day, Manolo Reyes of DPW’s Technical Services Division told DPW Secretary James Ada that the “parcel of land is not needed anymore for a parking facility because nobody is using the Susupe social hall.”
In an interview, Felipe Atalig said his son was never compensated since the property was taken by the government on March 22, 2012.
In those 10 years, he said, they could have earned revenue from the property had it not been for the government’s certification of acquisition. He said even though the government was not able to use the property, his son lost an economic opportunity for almost 10 years because it was certified for government use.
Felipe Atalig said he and his son believe the CNMI government should compensate them for taking the property for 10 years.
He also questions the authority and qualification of DPW to “de-certify” a property that the CNMI governor certified for government use 10 years ago.
Felipe Q. Atalig
