Reyes kicked out of Senate hearing

A heated argument between Senate floor leader Pete Reyes (Ind-Saipan) and Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian)-made worse by Reyes’ use of crude language and Cruz’s order for the sergeant-at-arms to remove Reyes from the gallery-overshadowed a Senate panel’s public hearing on two of three of the governor’s nominees to the Public Utilities Commission yesterday morning.

Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) later apologized to the public for having to witness the “commotion.”

“It’s unfortunate that a member of the committee chose to argue a point during the public hearing and it resulted in a situation. I think what happened.should have been discussed in the committee where the nominees and members of the public are not there,” Manglona told reporters.

A few hours later and despite the morning drama, the Senate held a 3pm emergency session to confirm the three nominees, including one in absentia, to help address the state of emergency declaration for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., which requires a functioning PUC on major procurement matters.

PUC needs at least three members to have a quorum. A full PUC has five members.

The Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations, chaired by Cruz, held a 10am public hearing on Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s nominations to PUC of Zenie P. Mafnas representing Tinian and Joseph C. Guerrero representing Saipan.

The committee did not schedule a public hearing on the third nominee, Oscar P. Quitugua, as they await submission of his papers to the Senate.

Besides Cruz and Reyes, two other EAGI Committee members were also present-Sen. Juan Ayuyu (Ind-Rota) and Sen. Ralph Torres (R-Saipan).

When Reyes’ turn came to ask Mafnas and Guerrero some questions, he asked whether any committee member investigated or reached out to them prior to the public hearing. The nominees said there was none.

Reyes pointed out that an EAGI Committee investigation on the nominees’ background and qualifications should be done before conducting a public hearing, and not during or after the public hearing.

Cruz told Reyes that this is not an investigation hearing but a public hearing. Reyes told Cruz “to have some respect,” and stop interrupting him from asking questions of the nominees.

The exchange continued until Reyes asked, “Do you want me to ask questions or not?” Cruz repeated that Reyes should focus his questions on the nominees and not about the process of investigation, public hearing and confirmation.

Reyes told Cruz, “Mr. Chairman, I want you to shut up and let me finish what I’m doing.”

Cruz then called the Senate sergeant-at-arms Juan Santos “to remove the floor leader from this public hearing.” He said Reyes was being “disrespectful for telling the chairman to shut up.”

Reyes said it was the chairman that “interrupted” him, and Cruz repeated his order to the sergeant-at-arms to remove Reyes. Reyes said he’s voting for the confirmations of Mafnas and Guerrero.

“Floor leader, you are excused from this public hearing,” Cruz said.

Reyes, in response, said, “You have no right to excuse me from a public hearing, Mr. Chairman.”

Cruz repeated that Reyes is being excused from the public hearing.

“Screw you,” Reyes told Cruz.

Cruz said, “Thank you. That’s a good example for the public.” He then called for recess.

The nominees, their families, supporters and other members of the community in the Senate gallery watched as the whole drama unfolded. Most of them didn’t want to be quoted but expressed disappointment that senators were reduced to such a crude exchange at a public hearing.

Reyes later told reporters it’s unprofessional for the EAGI chairman to interrupt him after acknowledging his turn to ask questions.

Cruz separately said that Reyes’s conduct would not intimidate or prevent the EAGI Committee from proceeding with the public hearing.

The nominees, Mafnas and Guerrero, said the exchange of words between the two senators is an issue separate from their confirmation, which they hope will happen.

The Senate president, however, called for an emergency session at 3pm to confirm not only Mafnas and Guerrero but Quitugua as well. Each of them was confirmed by a vote of 7-0 on the committee reports recommending their confirmation.

The seven senators present during the session were Manglona, Cruz, Reyes, Torres, Ayuyu, Sen. Henry San Nicolas (Cov-Tinian), and Sen. Luis Crisostimo (Ind-Saipan).

Senators hoped that by establishing a quorum for PUC, it can now start working and reviewing matters relating to CUC.