Cabrera, R-Saipan, said a two-hour discussion about a very simple bill is just too long.
In the next session, he said he will make sure that each member will be given only five minutes in the first round of discussion; three minutes in the second round; and two minutes to wrap up their statement.
He said he will be very strict in enforcing this rule.
The House started discussing H.B. 17-198 as soon as the session started at around 10 a.m.
Introduced by Rep. Ramon S. Basa, Covenant-Saipan, and Rep. Edmund S. Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan, the measure seeks to impose severe punishment on those who will commit crimes against tourists.
The minority bloc who initially supported the bill had a lengthy argument with the House leadership when Villagomez offered an amendment limiting the effect of the law within 1,000 feet from each tourist site on island.
Villagomez explained that it would be unfair for residents to have less protection from criminals if tougher measures are imposed only on those who victimize tourists.
“You mean if you are a resident here, those who attack your mother get less punishment than those who attack tourists?” Villagomez asked.
But Rep. Francisco S. Dela Cruz, R-Saipan, said that if they really wanted to protect the tourists why not impose tougher measure on criminals who attack them anywhere on island? Tourists can be anywhere, not only at tourist sites.
He said under Villagomez’s amendment, when a resident gets mugged within 1,000 feet of a tourist site, the perpetrator will be severely punished, but when the crime happened outside the 1,000 feet, the criminal will get a lighter sentence.
This, he said, does not make sense. “Why not just impose severe punishment on those who attack anyone anywhere on island?”
House Floor Leader George N. Camacho, Ind.-Saipan, said the bill focuses on protecting tourists.
Basa, for his part, urged his colleagues to act on the bill because it’s urgent.
The argument continued, prompting Cabrera to call for a recess twice.
The House leadership eventually defeated the minority bloc’s opposition to Villagomez’s amendment, and at 12:30 noon, they finally passed H.B. 17-198 by a 15 to 0 vote.
Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, and House Minority Leader Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan, were attending the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures in Kosrae while Rep. Janet U. Maratita, R-Saipan, was attending the National State Conference of State Legislatures in Washington state.
Reps. Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, and Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota, were in the session hall in the morning but left before members voted on the bill.
