REPRESENTATIVES Vincent Aldan, Vicente Camacho, John Paul Sablan, Marissa Flores and Vice Speaker Joel Camacho have been subpoenaed by the defense to testify in the bench trial of Shayne Villanueva on Nov. 6.
Villanueva has been charged with contempt of Legislature.
“Failure to comply with this subpoena may constitute the crime of contempt of court and a warrant may be issued for your arrest,” according to the summons issued by Superior Court Clerk Patrick Diaz on Oct. 21, 2024.
Gina T. Deleon Guerrero of Bank of Saipan was also subpoenaed to testify at the trial.
The court issued six separate summonses stating: “YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED pursuant to the Northern Mariana Islands Rule of Criminal Procedure 17 to appear and testify before the Superior Court for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands…in Susupe, Saipan, before Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja in Courtroom 202A at the hour of 9 a.m. on the 6th day of November 2024, in the above-entitled matter.
“Please be advised that your attendance is required throughout the trial scheduled…from day to day until it is completed, or upon notice by the court or Mr. Joaquin DLG Torres or Keith Chambers II, that this subpoena or your attendance is no longer necessary. This subpoena is issued upon the application of defendant Shayne B. Villanueva.”
Attorney Joaquin DLG Torres filed his appearance to represent Villanueva on Oct. 21.
Last week, the defense, through Chambers, subpoenaed the following lawmakers: Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Rep. Ralph N. Yumul, House Floor Leader Edwin K. Propst, and Rep. Blas Jonathan “BJ” Attao.
Chambers also subpoenaed Bank of Saipan officials Gina Muna and Karen Kalen.
Likewise, the defense subpoenaed Assistant Attorney General James Robert Kingman (who is prosecuting the case), Office of the AG investigator Ikluk Masayos, Legislative Sargent-at-Arms Pedro Towai, former Rep. Tina Sablan, and Saipan Tribune reporter Kimberly B. Esmores.
In an interview on Wednesday, Rep. John Paul Sablan said, “I guess there is nothing I can do but I need to go there or else I’ll be in contempt.”
At the pretrial conference on Tuesday, Variety learned that Kingman moved to quash the subpoena against him. Kingman will also file a notice of conflict of interest regarding the Torres Bros. law firm representing Villanueva.
Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, who is handling the case, has scheduled a motion hearing for Nov. 1.
Background
Villanueva is the owner of Roil Soil Marketing, which the administration of then-Gov. Ralph DLG Torres contracted to help implement BOOST in 2022.
BOOST stands for “Building Optimism, Opportunities and Stability Together,” a $17 million federally funded program.
On March 5, 2024, Villanueva appeared before the House Special Committee on Federal Assistance & Disaster-Related Funding and invoked his Fifth Amendment right when asked questions about BOOST. After the committee found him in contempt, Speaker Villagomez transmitted to Attorney General Edward Manibusan a “certification of statement of contempt” pertaining to Villanueva.
On March 22, 2024, Villanueva self-surrendered at the Department of Corrections after an arrest warrant was issued against him for contempt. He posted $1,000 bail for his release.
During an arraignment on April 2, 2024, Villanueva pleaded not guilty to the charge of contempt of Legislature.
Last month, Chambers requested the Superior Court to reconsider its ruling denying the defense motion to dismiss the contempt of Legislature case.
The court has yet to issue a ruling on the defense motion for reconsideration.
With Emmanuel T. Erediano
