THE House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee on Tuesday approved a motion to issue a subpoena to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ new chief of staff, former Guam Sen. Will Castro, to testify on the governor’s travels and reimbursements.
Rep. Tina Sablan made the motion during Tuesday’s meeting.
In an interview, the committee chairwoman, Rep. Celina R. Babauta, said the subpoena to Castro has nothing to do with his job as the governor’s chief of staff.
She said the appearance of Castro’s name in several documents pertaining to the governor’s travels and reimbursement requests from 2015 to 2019 is the reason why the committee wants him to testify.
In a request for reimbursement dated Jan. 30, 2019, the governor submitted a receipt for a $170.10 bottle of Scotch whiskey that he said was a gift for Guam Sen. Will Castro.
But in a July 3, 2020 email to Rep. Tina Sablan, Castro denied having received a personal gift from the governor.
Castro said he hosted a social gathering at his home in January 2019 following the coordination of donated relief items to assist the CNMI in recovery from Super Typhoon Yutu.
Castro said, “It was not an official function but a social gathering after 5 p.m. at which food and drinks were donated and prepared by family and friends voluntarily.”
He told Sablan: “As I recall, many in attendance, some of whom are government officials, may have contributed. Governor Torres was in attendance. He and his guests contributed something to the event either in the form of food or drinks. Whatever was brought by the governor, I assure you that it was not delivered to me as a personal gift. Any and all items were placed on the tables and made available for all guests to consume.”
Babauta on Tuesday said when her committee began its investigation Castro was not on island.
Earlier this month, Castro was appointed chief of staff by the governor.
Babauta said the governor’s lawyers cannot invoke testimonial immunity on behalf of Castro because the questions to be asked pertain to a period of time when Castro was still a Guam senator.
Wil Castro
