SPECIAL Assistant for Administration Mathilda “Keko” Rosario will speak in Chamorro during the House committee hearing that will start at 10 a.m. today, July 15, 2021, on Republican Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ public expenditures.
The CNMI Constitution states that the Commonwealth’s official language “shall be Chamorro, Carolinian and English.”
In a letter in Chamorro to Democrat Rep. Celina R. Babauta, who chairs the House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations, Rosario said she will exercise her constitutional right to speak in Chamorro when she appears before the panel.
Rosario said if Babauta has any questions, she can contact Rosario’s lawyer, Viola Alepuyo, a former acting attorney general.
The committee on Wednesday discussed Rosario’s letter.
One of the committee members, Democrat Rep. Edwin Propst, said they respect Rosario’s right to speak the local language.
“I support that right to be able to speak in Chamorro. We will never object to that. It is her constitutional right and we want to protect that right.”
But he said the committee may need to bring in a translator.
“It is something we are looking at,” Propst said, adding that he himself is not 100% fluent in Chamorro. “We also have to realize that there are also [members of the] viewing audience [online] who may not speak the vernacular and may not understand Chamorro.”
He finds a translator necessary “so that the people can follow along with what’s going on just like in the courtroom or anywhere else. We also want to make sure that all things are also being translated for recording as well.”
The JGO committee will also subpoena DPS chief investigator Simon Manacop, Bureau of Motor Vehicles Director Juana Deleon Guerrero, officers Jose Saures, Alex Sakisat, Daniel Joab, Joey Cruz and Adrian Mendiola.
The committee likewise approved the issuance of a subpoena to Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig, his predecessor, Larrisa Larson, and a private citizen, Erin V. Camacho.
In addition, the committee will issue a subpoena duces tecum to DPS-Boating Safety and the Department of Finance.
Financial and Accounting Director Bernadita Palacios and Police Officer 1 Jomalyn Gelacio, who used to be a member of the protective security detail for first lady Diann T. Torres, had already testified before the committee.
Special Assistant for Administration Mathilda “Keko” A. Rosario appears before the House Committee on Health and Welfare d in May to answer questions regarding the medical referral program.
