“IT’S just a prank,” said Ji Jing Borja, referring to the video recording of a CNMI Fish and Wildlife employee receiving $100 from him.
The Office of the Attorney General has accused Borja of bribing the Fish and Wildlife employee, Marvin Rodney Pangelinan, so that Borja could bring tourists to the Grotto without proper business credentials.
On March 28, 2023, the AG’s office filed an information in Superior Court charging Borja and Pangelinan with one count of bribery each.
But according to Borja, he is a licensed diving instructor, and has a permit and license for his tourist-related business operations.
“We are running a legitimate company, we pay BGRT, federal tax, insurance, and other [fees],” he said.
As to the bribery allegation against him, Borja said, “On February 11, Marvin Pangelinan was asking to borrow from me $200. My friend told me not to make him borrow because he knew…Marvin…. He likes to borrow money from tour agents…and also borrow other stuff… like cigarettes.”
“But Marvin always calls me to help assist tourists for translation at Managaha, and I get a commission,” Borja said. “And I feel sorry to refuse him…those things…even though I don’t like him, because he is the only Fish and Wildlife officer who brings a handgun to show off.”
Borja said he “decided to help him….” So he wouldn’t “take advantage of me or others, I also video recorded [it] as a prank to teach him a lesson. This was just for me and my friend who helped me video record what was happening. [It was] not for [the] public or social media.”
Borja said on Feb. 12 he showed the video to Parks and Recreation employee Max Aguon who was assigned at the Grotto at the time.
“The next morning Max Aguon called me and said he made an appointment with the Fish and Wildlife boss, which is not what I wanted, and I told him, no, because that was a prank video for me and my friends, and not for him to report,” Borja added.
Borja said he was shocked when he learned that the Fish and Wildlife director and the AG’s office wanted to talk to him.
He said he called Aguon and asked him “why did he go so far — this video is just a prank and I can’t use this fake video…to put someone out of job.”
“If Marvin did something wrong,” he added, “I would be the one to report him.”
Pangelinan has denied the allegation against him, and told Variety that he was conferring with his attorney regarding the matter.
An arraignment has been set for April 29, 2023 for both defendants.
Ji Jing Borja
