This was the contention of Rose DLG. Mondala, the federal programs coordinator of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.
Cruz, Taotao Tano’s leader, has accused her of “unprofessional behavior.”
“You should at least have the decency to write to me to clear whatever questions you have about the manamko’,” Mondala told Cruz in a letter.
She said Cruz is not really representing the indigenous group and is merely “raising issues for his personal interest.”
According to Mondala, Cruz has the habit of jumping into a conclusion without checking the facts.
“By the way, who is Taotao Tano? Everyone that I know of pulled themselves out of your organization for the same reason why I’m taking my [Taotao Tano] sticker down from my car. You started the organization with full momentum but you ruined it by getting out of hand,” she told Cruz.
In his letter Office of Aging Director Howard Macaranas, Cruz said that Mondala forced some senior citizens to sign a resolution opposing the proposed national marine monument.
“Mrs. Mondala’s unprofessional, unethical, barbaric, tyrannical and disrespectful attitude will not be tolerated and the two of you should be investigated immediately on the matter of forcing people, especially the manamko’, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, to do something they do not want to do, and then to criticize, insult and embarrass them in front of other manamko’ present when they refused to sign a resolution from Mrs. Mondala,” Cruz said.
While she admitted that the resolution was distributed for signing, Mondala said she never forced anyone to sign it.
“You are making an accusation that doesn’t make any sense at all,” she told Cruz. “Perhaps you should check with your mother and father if they are abused since they were both under my care here in the center.”
In an interview, Mondala said she may sue Cruz for issuing defamatory statements against her, adding that the Taotao Tano leader doesn’t know how to use civil words.
Macaranas, in his e-mail to Cruz, told Cruz to verify his allegation that some senior citizens were supposedly forced to sign the resolution.
“I am in agreement that what was [allegedly] done to them was wrong, and I will support them in their defense against any unacceptable acts done upon them,” Macaranas said.
