Open letter to Mr. Paul Manglona

Briefly, about you, Paul Manglona. You have been elected to the CNMI Senate since the middle part of 1998, specifically the 6th CNMI Senate. Under the democratic form of government we simply have three branches of government: the Executive Branch, the Legislature, and the Judiciary. You are an elected leader under the legislative branch. Per my understanding of your status within the CNMI government, you are classified as a “leader” of the CNMI. Unfortunately, you are not acting like one of the leaders of the CNMI. Here is my reason.

The CNMI Retirement Fund’s financial dilemma is not a story. It is history. Throughout its history, you have been—and still are—one of the leaders of the CNMI. My question to you is, as president of the Senate, what specific action have you taken to stop the financial meltdown of the Retirement Fund? In my opinion, you have done nothing whatsoever. You see, it is not just Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s leadership that is in question! Your leadership is also in question. Stop pointing fingers because you are just as at fault!

Three-and-a-half years ago, the Honorable Judge Govendo made a judgment against the CNMI government’s liability to the Retirement Fund in the amount of $300 million-plus. Under CNMI law, only an act of the Legislature (where you are the president of the Senate and still are) could authorize Gov. Fitial to make any payment to the Retirement Fund. That has not happened and that is the reason why the Fund is in this financial predicament. Had you taken the leadership role as Senate president, perhaps the filing of Chapter 11 could have been avoided!

Paul, leaders do not point fingers. They take action. You have failed big time in this department. You would rather play your usual politicking rather than try to find solutions to the Fund’s problems. I beg all the retirees on Rota to vote Paul Manglona out of office.

What amazes me more about you, Paul, is you would rather protect the $4,000 untaxed dollars that you extract from the CNMI government coffers, on a monthly basis, for personal gain. This amount of $48,000 a year times 22 years of service is equal to $105,600 in untaxed dollars from the CNMI taxpayers. Shame on you, Paul! You have put your personal interest (gain) over the livelihood of retirees!

So here is the deal. Stop playing politics and, as one of the leaders of the CNMI, put your personal vendetta against Governor Fitial aside and collectively with the other elected leaders of the CNMI sit together with one very cold beer and get to work for the common good of the people of the CNMI! I am also calling on Speaker Cabrera to step up the plate. Sir, with all due respect, you have been mum on the issue. Biba Marianas!