“We are ready to pursue litigation until they provide us the FDA certification for our RO system,” Untalan told the Variety in a phone interview yesterday.
The Variety contacted the contractor, AIC Marianas Inc., but was told that its vice president Michael Stewart was off-island.
AIC’s subcontractor, Saipan Ice, did not return this reporter’s call.
Untalan said the Commonwealth Health Center continues to provide dialysis care to patients.
“It’s not going to hamper our dialysis service to patients,” he said.
He said he learned about the forged FDA certification when Pennsylvania-based Severn Trent Services, which supplied the RO water system unit to Saipan Ice, informed him about it.
“I learned about it the day before I was to testify before the House Committee on Ways and Means,” said Untalan.
He said his office has informed the federal government about the fake FDA certification.
“There’s no need for federal investigation yet,” said Untalan and noted that the CNMI government, the Legislature in particular, already promised to get into the bottom of the issue.
Untalan added, however, that the federal government is “concerned with the delay.”
The dialysis center’s construction was completed three years ago.
