In her memorandum to Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, and Speaker Eli D. Cabrera, R-Saipan, Reyes said the joint leadership’s 10 to 6 vote to replace her was done in a closed-door meeting which, she added, was a violation of the Open Government Act.
Citing the CNMI Constitution’s Article 2, Section 17, the LB director said her removal requires the separate majority votes of the House and the Senate.
She said only seven senators and nine House members were in the closed-door meeting.
The lack of “full participation of the entire membership of each house is in violation of the Constitution,” she added.
However, she said, “in the interest of ensuring continuity of an effective functioning LB, I hereby designate Mr. Melchor Mendiola to take charge of all LB matters as I exit on a personal leave of absence.”
Mendiola’s “designation,” she added, will continue until the issue surrounding her removal “is legally and constitutionally resolved.”
The lawmakers who attended last week’s joint leadership meeting were Manglona, Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian; Sens. Frank Q. Cruz, R-Tinian; Henry H. San Nicolas, R-Tinian; Jovita M. Taimanao, Ind.-Rota; Luis P. Crisostimo, Ind.-Saipan; Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan; Speaer Cabrera; Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan; House Floor Leader George N. Camacho, Ind.-Saipan; Reps. Ramon S. Basa, Covenant-Saipan; Edmund S. Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan; Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan; Ralph S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan; Fredrick P. Deleon Guerrero, Ind.-Saipan; and Joseph M. Palacios, R-Saipan
