ATTORNEY General Robert T. Torres will meet with the commissioner of the Marianas Public Lands Authority and its comptroller next week to look into the status of Commerce Secretary Fermin M. Atalig’s debt to the agency.
Torres, however, yesterday said the “unallowable charges” committed by Atalig on his MPLA-issued credit card does not constitute fraud.
“I will sit down with them to get an itemization and report from them as to what action, if any, will be taken and the status of the debt—when will it be satisfied,” Torres said.
A Dec. 21, 2001 audit released by the Office of the Public Auditor revealed that there was a “substantial unallowable expenditure” charged on the credit card issued to Atalig, who served as a member of the then Marianas Public Lands Corp. representing Rota.
Torres said the credit card was for the board members’ authorized expenditures.
Atalig still has to pay $15,873.29 of the $25,673.29 he owes to the government through his use of the government-issued credit card.
Atalig said he has no intention to defraud the government or to abuse the privileges given to him.
“The usage of the credit card was not made very clear to me. I thought I can use it for my personal use as long as I pay for it. I do not intend to defraud the government,” Atalig told Variety.
According to Atalig, he is “doing everything” to settle his debt. “I will not run away from my obligations,” he said.
