SAIPAN Mayor Ramon B. Camacho is disappointed that the Department of Lands did not approve his request to temporarily designate the former Banadero airfield in Marpi to the Municipality of Saipan.
In an Oct. 21 letter to DPL, Camacho requested that the area be temporarily placed under municipal designation so that his office could “ensure proper management and preservation of the site…”
He said the area is the site of illegal dumping despite its use by Japanese organizations for the cremation of World War II remains.
In an interview with Variety on Monday, he said Japanese organizations continue to come to Saipan in search of WWII remains so they can be given a proper Shinto funeral.
He said to curb illegal dumping, he wants to install chains at the site to prevent vehicles from entering Banadero.
“By securing temporary designation, we aim to prevent further misuse of the site, support ongoing recovery and identification efforts, and ensure respectful management,” Camacho stated in his letter to DPL. “Given the historical significance and sensitivity of this location, we believe that the Saipan Mayor’s Office, in cooperation with relevant cultural and historical organizations, can provide the necessary stewardship during this period.”
In an Oct. 25 letter to Mayor Camacho, Patricia Rasa, DPL planning division director, said the former Banadero airfield is part of the “Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) cleanup process.”
She said “unauthorized activities or disturbances” at Banadero could “potentially jeopardize the ongoing cleanup efforts” and “compromise the Department of Defense’s allocated funding” for the project.
“To ensure the successful completion of the FUDS cleanup, it is essential that we adhere to the protocols and procedures,” Rasa said. “The designated contractors and environmental experts are equipped with the necessary knowledge and resources to safely and effectively address the contamination at the site.”
Camacho noted that he sent his letter directly to DPL Secretary Teresita Santos, and he felt “disrespected” that she did not respond to him herself.
Camacho has been feuding with DPL since 2023. Last year, he started a public petition to remove Santos from her position.
Camacho told Variety that, although his staff has cleaned the area around Banadero, he expects illegal dumpers to cause “chaos” in the area if no steps are taken to stop them.
