THE House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations will hold a hearing Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 to ask Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Robert Guerrero questions pertaining to the governor’s public expenditures.
Guerrero was scheduled to appear before the House panel at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, but the committee called for a recess until Friday.
The committee wants the commissioner to testify on the governor’s boat trips, including but not limited to expenses related to fuel, food, beverages, water, materials, supplies, equipment, employee compensation including overtime, and any fuel fleet card purchases, purchase orders, contracts, rental agreements, boat charters, billings, and repair receipts from January 2015 to present.
In a statement, committee chair Rep. Celina Babauta said, “In light of the escalating number of positive Covid-19 cases in the Commonwealth, the JGO committee has been in meetings all day with the Legislative Bureau director, the House counsels in consultation with the speaker and has collectively made the decision to delay its meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 7 to Friday, Dec. 10, while the Legislative Bureau prepares the building for everyone’s safety.”
She said, “The burden to reconcile the need to be vigilant in light of the recent surge in Covid-19 cases with the need to continue our legislative mission weighed heavily on your JGO committee.”
She also noted that Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez and Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider have decided that the Legislature remain open for business, so the JGO committee had to meet on Tuesday as earlier scheduled “because we put out the notice pursuant to the Open Government Act and I didn’t cancel it.”
But “our responsibility to public health and to the safety of the community comes first,” Babauta added.
This Friday, she said, “the public will hear the testimony of DPS Commissioner Robert Guerrero, as well as of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.”
Among other things, the committee wants to ask the governor about “federal investigations involving CNMI government expenditures and resources.”
In keeping with the more stringent Covid-19 control measures implemented this week, Babauta is advising the public that seating in the House chamber may be restricted to ensure social distancing.
House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee Chairwoman Celina Babauta listens during a Sept. 15, 2021 hearing in the House chamber.
