“This is an issue that has to be put to rest,” Dela Cruz said in an interview yesterday.
He said he is now waiting for the schedule of hearing so he can know if Tinian, Rota and Saipan municipalities are part of the CNMI central government and are thus entitled to the services of the Attorney General’s Office.
Dela Cruz earlier sought the AGO’s assistance in responding to the Open Government Act requests of his critic, Felipe Q. Atalig.
“I want the court to rule on our standing as a municipal government. Where do we stand here in our CNMI government?” the mayor asked.
Dela Cruz noted that municipal governments get funding from the CNMI government, but the administration is insisting that the municipalities are not part of the central government.
The AGO recently announced it cannot represent the Tinian mayor’s office because it is a chartered municipality.
Rep. Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, also believes that municipal governments are not part of the central government and therefore should not be part of the Retirement Fund.
Dela Cruz said he had to bring this issue to the court.
“If we’re not part of the central government, then we would know what to do with ourselves,” he said.
According to the mayor, the AGO originally agreed to provide legal assistance.
“Now the AGO is trying to withdraw, but I’m going to challenge that in court,” Dela Cruz said.
