REPRESENTATIVE Corina L. Magofna said the Senate should not dismiss the articles of impeachment against Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
“I believe we can all agree that there are two sides to every story, right? Well, unfortunately, for today’s hearing purposes, the people of the CNMI will only hear one side. What can I say? At this juncture, it is what it is,” she said in her remarks during the public comment portion of the Senate hearing on Tuesday.
“I do, however, would still like for our people to hear and understand why the Senate should not consider dismissing the [articles of] impeachment…. Rather, the Senate should consider convicting Governor Torres for all the laws he violated and his blatant disregard for how he used and abused public funds and resources, especially during a time when our people were severely suffering after a natural disaster.”
Magofna noted the executive expenditures on utilities for the governor’s two private residences: one in As Teo and the other in Koblerville.
She said CNMI law provides for government housing for the governor and other key officials, but it does not provide for the government to pay for the utilities of private residences.
“The law is very clear. It is important to note that the law does not authorize for the payment of utilities of private residential properties,” she said.
Magofna also mentioned the commercial piggery operating on the governor’s residential property.
She said based on “sworn live testimonies by key officials, as well as hard evidence,” documents showed the governor was reimbursed for his utility payments.
She said the Senate should “do right” by the people who elected them into office.
Magofna was selected by Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider to act as House impeachment prosecutor after House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez and House Vice Speaker Blas Jonathan T. Attao declined the designation, saying that the House should be allowed to name its team of prosecutors.
However, the Senate impeachment rules provide for only one House impeachment prosecutor.
Torres was impeached by the House of Representatives on Jan. 12, 2022 by a vote of 15 to 4 with 1 abstention, on allegations of felonies of theft, corruption and neglect of duty. He has denied the charges.
At least six of the nine senators must vote to convict in order to remove him from office.
Corina Magofna
