“DON’T make it political. Don’t make it about anything else other than doing your jobs today,” said NMI Republican Party 2nd President Shayne Villanueva told the Senate during its special session on Friday.
“I really came here today to give my comment as a neutral and try to be as non-biased as possible,” he said, noting that the local court had denied Sen. Paul A. Manglona’s request for a temporary restraining order due to lack of evidence.
“In court, with no evidence, no prosecutor, the court does not continue. They dismiss the case. Let’s look here. Let’s try to be non-biased, as if this was not the governor having a hearing today. Look at the facts and the evidence and see whether or not it is a fair, just, and honorable decision, or if it is a political decision, unfair and biased. The prosecution is not here and has been asked several times in different capacities to be here,” he said.
“It is a shame as a voter in the CNMI that we do not get to hear their side in one of the final hearings, and by choice, they did not decide to plead their case. We do not get to hear the prosecution, who has taken the CNMI on this journey over the last three years. I do not want to even begin to think of the costs to the CNMI that this brought upon us here, just to not hear them plead their case and show the evidence.
“If we were to look at this impartially and if someone else, anyone else, was on trial here, as a judge or jury, you will understand that if there was no evidence and no prosecutor, you must dismiss. If you do not dismiss today, then we know as a people who are tired of the impeachment hearings that the bias decision being placed forth.
“All of you should understand today, just like Johnnie Cochran once said in the case for OJ [Simpson], ‘If the glove does not fit, you must acquit.’ Or in this case, if the prosecution doesn’t show, then this must go.
“If you’re really about stopping corruption, everyone has heard the opinions of corruption…. We all have. If you do not dismiss today, then you place yourself in the same label that you are fighting for. If you do not follow the rules and set forth, then we know without saying that this is just a political tactic. So, I ask you on my own behalf, to please let this end today by voting to dismiss, as you have an obligatory duty to complete today….
“Let us take the little time we have left to come up with solutions to our tourism industry and other solutions for the future. I implore you once again to dismiss, as this is the only ruling fit with no prosecution here to challenge the dismissal,” he said.
For his part, attorney Joaquin Torres, said, “This is what you call an unopposed motion,” referring to the motion to dismiss the articles of impeachment against his brother, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
The Senate on Friday morning denied the governor’s motion to dismiss the articles of impeachment against him. The vote was 4 in favor and 3 against. Two recused themselves — Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, the governor’s running mate; and Senate Vice President Justo S. Quitugua who said his mother and the governor’s maternal grandfather are siblings.
Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider said five votes of the nine-member Senate were needed to pass the motion.
The Senate will now proceed with an impeachment hearing starting on May 13, Friday, at 10 a.m. in the Senate chamber.
According to the CNMI Constitution, the Senate “may convict after hearing by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members” — that is, six of the nine senators.
NMI Republican Party 2nd President Shayne Villanueva addresses the Senate during the public comments portion of its session Friday morning.
