“It is simply unacceptable…that six new political appointees, indebted to the administration for their own new jobs, could be installed at the election commission while the current scandal continues unresolved,” Pangelinan said in a letter to the commission, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Office of the Public Auditor.
“It is also more than a little ridiculous for the administration to be talking of creating six new government employees when on Friday, the administration could not meet payroll for its already existing employees,” Pangelinan added.
He said “steps so far taken…are not sufficient to address the committee’s concern about the coming election.”
The committee and other individuals have filed complaints with OPA regarding Attorney General Edward Buckingham’s hosting a “meet and greet” event for the ruling Covenant Party’s candidate for congressional delegate, former Rep. Joseph N. Camacho.
Pangelinan told Election Commission Executive Director Robert A. Guerrero that the “complaints” are serious.
“The attorney general has used his official position and the name of the entire [AG’s] office…to publicly support one candidate for public office…. The attorney general and [his office] have also very likely used public resources to promote the same candidate,” Pangelinan said.
He added, “Obviously, the [AGO] cannot investigate and prosecute itself for these violations. Further, it is not sufficient for Attorney General Buckingham to state that he has simply recused himself, and will allow others in his own office to help with election matters when valid complaints have also been made against the entire [AGO].”
For these reasons, Pangelinan said “it is imperative that some form of independent oversight of this year’s election be established as quickly as possible so that the entire public can have utmost confidence in our election.”
“The right to vote is fundamental to our freedoms and our system of government,” Pangelinan said.
“[T]he Committee to Elect Jesus C. Borja calls on all citizens of the CNMI to take whatever steps necessary to reestablish the freedom, fairness, and independence to the coming election,” Pangelinan added.
Borja, a former Supreme Court justice and lt. governor, is the Democratic Party’s candidate.
He and Camacho are running against incumbent Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan, an independent, and former Gov. Juan N. Babauta, the Republican hopeful.
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