From left, Michi Viches, Liberation Day Committee member; Priscilla Iakopo, adviser; Bridget Maratita-Deleon Guerrero, vice chairwoman; Frances Santos, chairwoman; Pearl Kaipat, secretary; Vicenta Magofna, treasurer; and Patrick Arriola-Camacho, member.
THE 2025 Liberation Day Committee said the 10% vendor sales deduction is not a tax.
“We acknowledge that one of our documents mistakenly referred to the vendor fee as a ‘sales tax,’ and we regret any confusion that caused,” LDC Chairwoman Frances Santos said on Monday.
“The intent was never to mislead, and we’ve since taken steps to clarify the fee’s purpose and legal status. Our focus now is to restore trust by being transparent, addressing concerns openly, and engaging directly with our vendor community. We recognize that these events rely on the hard work and goodwill of everyone involved. We are committed to learning from this experience to ensure that future celebrations are better planned, better communicated, and truly reflective of the community spirit that Liberation Day represents,” Santos said.
“Liberation Day is a time for remembrance, unity, and cultural pride,” she added.
According to the LDC, the 10% vendor fee:
• Was approved solely by the LDC board of directors, pursuant to its authority under its bylaws;
• Was clearly disclosed in the vendor application, which all participants signed voluntarily;
• Is not a tax, despite a clerical error in one document that referred to it as a “sales tax”;
• Will be reported and taxed under the CNMI Business Gross Revenue Tax requirements.
The fee supports the operational costs of hosting a large public celebration, including utilities, tents, sanitation, security, and other logistical needs — all of which were provided free of charge to participating vendors, the LDC added.
Furthermore, the LDC acknowledges the earlier mislabeling of the fee and has taken steps to correct the record. This clarification is issued in the interest of transparency, accountability, and public trust, the committee added.
The committee “remains fully committed to honoring the historical and cultural legacy of Liberation Day through inclusive, community-led events that reflect the values of the people.”
The LDC is a legally registered, independent, non-profit organization incorporated in the CNMI. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors and operates separately from the Office of the Mayor of Saipan.
While the committee values its partnerships with local government agencies, including the mayor’s office, these relationships are collaborative and do not involve oversight or control of the committee’s operations, finances, or decision-making, the LDC said.
