Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, said she’s “deeply appalled at the great lengths to which the governor goes to praise Mr. Villagomez for his courage, fortitude and service to the commonwealth, after Mr. Villagomez was just convicted by a jury of his peers for bribery, theft, wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the federal government.”
But Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said the governor’s statement springs from his faith as a devout Roman Catholic.
“There is nothing inherently wrong with the governor having a sense of compassion for those who fail to live up to our expectations and who are already suffering greatly for their actions. The governor is a strong Catholic, a man of Christian faith, and I believe he was acting within his conscience in making the statement,” Reyes said.
But according to Sablan, “If anyone deserves praise for courage, fortitude, and service to the commonwealth, it’s the whistleblowers, the witnesses, the investigators, the auditors, the prosecutors, the jurors, the judge, and everyone else involved in this case who chose to do the just and conscientious thing, to examine the evidence fairly and carefully, and to hold Mr. Villagomez and the Santoses responsible for breaking the law and abusing the public trust.”
The lawmaker said she is equally disturbed by the following statement made by the governor: “In considering recent events, I hope that more people in the commonwealth will consider the lasting impact that a court’s decision can have on a man’s life and family.”
She said public officials who break the law and abuse the public trust are the ones who should have considered the lasting impact of their actions to their lives and families.
“I hope that no one is discouraged by the governor’s comments, and I also hope that more and more people find the courage to take a strong stand against public corruption, report any misconduct in public office, and demand accountability in government. Imagine the lasting impacts of a brave and outspoken citizenry, and a clean government! The commonwealth would be a much better place,” she said.
Reyes said he respects Sablan’s conviction and stand on issues but added that the governor’s statements shouldn’t be used to attack him.
“I personally cannot fault her for the view she has taken in this case. I realize that people in our community may share her sentiments,” he said.
“To some people — maybe not to Representative Sablan — but to some people — the interests of justice may not automatically exclude a benign sense of compassion for those who may have failed the public’s trust,” he added.
