SENATOR Dennis James Mendiola of Rota on Thursday reiterated his request to his fellow senators to reject Gov. Arnold I. Palacios’ nomination of Bruce Jorgensen to the Commonwealth Ports Authority board, saying the lawyer does not represent the people of Rota.
Mendiola cited a petition signed by Rota residents who said that Jorgensen’s nomination is invalid and is an affront to the people of the island.
“Everybody knows he is a lawyer and is qualified,” Mendiola said, referring to Jorgensen. But the issue “is the fact that we’d like to see the appointment of people who are living on Rota.”
Mendiola said it is important for the people of Rota to be represented on government boards or commissions by people residing on their island.
“And that’s really where I stand,” he said. “I’d like to recognize all those people who stressed their concern regarding [Jorgensen’s nomination]. And it’s important that as members we take note of all the opposition and concerns because I believe they’re valid.”
Amusing
In a statement to Variety on Thursday, Jorgensen said: “It is curious, and somewhat amusing, that newbie Senator Dennis Mendiola seeks to rehash old news, reported and dispelled more than a month ago, by reiterating personal criticisms evincing his own ignorance, disregard for facts, and propensity for anti-white racism.”
Jorgensen said it was “unbecoming of a CNMI senator, particularly one so wet behind the ears as is Dennis, who is supposed to fairly and equally treat all of his Rota constituents, including those of us who seek to alter his self-interested political/familial status quo to alleviate Rota’s economic hardships and who, like me, happen to possess white skin pigmentation.”
Jorgensen said, “This dubious excuse for a senator had full and firsthand opportunity to raise before the Senate [Executive Appointments and Government Investigations] Committee any bona fide objections harbored in opposition” to Jorgensen’s nomination.
Instead, Jorgensen said, “Mendiola forfeited that right, and his fiduciary commitments to our Rota community, by abruptly resigning as Rota’s representative on the Senate’s EAGI and [Judiciary, Government and Law] committees, just days before the EAGI…heard and considered testimony on my nomination, and unanimously approved that nomination. And in so doing, Mendiola woefully reneged on his utmost fiduciary duties to Rota constituents, in favor of his personal penchant to unilaterally quit, whine, pout, and then spew and spout inanities,” Jorgensen added.
“Making things worse,” he said, “all know that Dennis concocts those inanities out of no genuine concern for the Rota citizenry at large, but rather for the puppeteer and political handler to whom Dennis is entirely and irrevocably beholden not merely for political office, but with aim to protect at any and all cost, the self-interested business enterprises, economic price-gouging profits, and extended familial political base of his puppeteer/handler who, as Lutanese long know, remains a Torres Loyalist — who, just a year ago, acted in brazen concert with others, to orchestrate and facilitate a sham impeachment trial in our Senate, occasioned by the shameful aftermath that stains…our community to this day.”
Jorgensen added, “Indeed, a running commentary among Rota residents opines that on each dress shirt Dennis wears, there has been attached a puppet sleeve to the back, with a label reading ‘Made By Biktot’ on one side, and ‘Handled By Biktot’ on the other. Now I would never personally make such a remark about Dennis, or other detractors who, like Dennis, seek to personally malign, impugn, vilify, and falsely portray me in the media, and predicate their vitriol on glaringly apparent ignorance, as opposed to fact and reality. But, to each his own.”
According to Jorgensen, “The pertinent reality here is that folks like Mendiola and former Sen. Pete Reyes are serving as lapdogs doing the bidding for their longstanding Rota cronies, who are principally if not entirely responsible for Rota’s fiscal demise and absurdly exorbitant commodities prices, have derived millions in profits from the predatory pricing they inflict on Rota residents, and therefore will do whatever they can…to prevent any shift in the status quo. And they absolutely know — as I unhesitatingly assure — that if I am confirmed to serve as the CPA board member representing Rota’s interests, that this disgracefully longstanding and previously unchecked status quo will be altered immediately, comprehensively, and in a manner ensuring an end to CPA decisions, agreements, and seemingly collusive realities, which for decades have irreparably harmed Rota’s importers, grocers, farmers, tradesmen, and families.”
Jorgensen said he is “incorruptible; I owe no political debts; I am retired, so in no dire need for money; I have no family members/relatives who have, want, or need Rota government employment; I have a history of commitment to public service, community interests, and confronting unpopular/impermissible actions by government officials and entities; and, I have an extensive record of successfully taking on issues — inside and outside the courtrooms —where fiduciary responsibilities are at play.”
He said, “It seems that at present, the best Mendiola can do, is to offer up a few of Reyes’s inane utterances. Like the notion that by volunteering to perform a CPA board function, which pays zero salary, I somehow act as a despicable ‘opportunist’ of some sort. Given their apparent inability to fathom reality, let me explain the ‘opportunity’ at hand — the only ‘opportunity’ I am being offered, is the opportunity to stabilize the once fiscally thriving and operationally admirable CPA autonomous entity which unfortunately — with…Pete and his cohorts at the helm — has over the past decade spiraled down, with dysfunction and fiscal chaos the current norm, FAA regulators increasingly exasperated, and economic calamity forecast to hit the fan…on September 30. And, of course, the ancillary ‘opportunity’ I will attain will be the ‘opportunity’ to be targeted for blame when the crisis occurs, as…Pete will have departed claiming all was peaches, cream, and rosy, when he left,” Jorgensen said.
As for the issue of “residency,” Jorgensen said “a person can have multiple places of ‘residence’ (think, for example, of Larry Hillblom who owned homes and resided in the CNMI, the Philippines, France, Greece, Washington, Idaho, and California, yet nonetheless was considered a CNMI resident for purposes of successfully being nominated and appointed as a CNMI [special judge].”
“In any event, I continue to be happy to serve the CNMI community in general, and the Rota community in particular, regardless of whether a handful of detractors, adversaries, or those with personal, business, or political objectives —like Dennis Mendiola, his puppeteer(s), or…Pete Reyes —would prefer otherwise. And I remain passionate about serving as a CPA board member for the utmost and best interests of all who call Rota home,” Jorgensen said.
‘Outstanding individual’
Nick C. Sablan, a retiree, has asked senators to support Jorgensen’s confirmation.
He said, “While we all know Jorgensen’s credentials will help tremendously the CNMI’s interest in terms of maritime law, I find it difficult to comprehend a petition that is circulating on Rota to prevent such an outstanding individual from helping the CNMI move forward in the right direction.”
Sablan said to prevent Jorgensen from serving the people of the CNMI because of “a few petitioners is not only a travesty to the residents of Luta and the CNMI in general, but our leaders will only prove their weakness to some individuals that are connected and powerful.”
Sablan said, “Bruce doesn’t need this position…. People should look at how he helped the retirees from being deprived of their benefits and what sort of change he can do to the people of Luta who are suffering from the cost of shipping and everything associated with it. Bottom line is we, the CNMI people, have plenty to lose should he be denied to serve.”
A registered Rota voter
Former Department of Public Works Secretary John S. “Liling” Reyes said he wants to set the record straight about Jorgensen by listing down some of the facts about his intention to serve:
1) Jorgensen is a registered voter of Rota who is on Saipan helping Sen. Paul Manglona of Rota at his legislative office on Saipan.
2) Jorgensen has a master’s degree in maritime law “which makes him the best selection for the CPA board.”
3) His intention is to find ways to help the people of Rota by reducing their shipping costs.
4) He is very concerned with the way CPA is being run and the many federal grant deficiencies that the ports authority is now facing.
Liling Reyes expressed his “strong support” for Jorgensen, saying “don’t be distracted by the few people whose mission is not in the best interest of the people of Rota.”
Dennis Mendiola
