Leepan wants to get to the bottom of allegations vs Commerce chief

Guerrero

While he may not be perfect himself, Rep. Joseph Leepan Guerrero (R-Saipan) said yesterday he “will get to the bottom” of the allegations against Department of Commerce secretary Mark Rabauliman for an alleged abuse of authority, among others, and that he would treat the issue “equally and fairly.”

“I need to understand what really transpired. I’ve got the victim’s side of the story. I know that the victim is disappointed whether I was the one who shared this information. I wasn’t the one who shared this to the media, I don’t know who,” Guerrero told reporters yesterday.

Mariano Salas, an enforcement officer under Commerce’s Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Control Division, has alleged harassment, bullying, racial discrimination, and abuse of authority by Raubliman, in an incident report written last month

The report claims that Rabauliman demanded that Salas and other Commerce staff volunteering during Tinian Pika Festival last month use their per diem to buy cases of beer, using expletives, and allegedly making racial remarks against Salas, who is Chamorro.

Guerrero said the victim sought his audience and they sat down to speak on the issue about two weeks ago, and that he brought the issue to the attention of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres after meeting with the alleged victim.

Guerrero said he spoke to the governor to address his concerns as chairman of House Committee on Commerce and Tourism, as well as to make it aware to him that this issue concerns the Executive Branch’s Cabinet.

“You need to take immediate action on this. You have to take lead on it, because this is your staff, this is one of your Cabinet members. And you need to deal with it,” Guerrero said, recalling the conversation with Torres.

Guerrero said he told Salas that he needed to gather more detailed information on what really transpired.

“I want to balance it out. Because I am going to biased if I just support the victim and not the other side. You need to substantiate the chain of events. I am not saying he is lying. That never came to my mind. I just want to hear from the other side of the fence. Especially the people who were present there.”

Guerrero said the governor requested the director of the Office of Personnel Management to conduct an investigation on the matter.

Guerrero said that Rabauliman, as one of recent graduates of the Pacific Century Fellows program, should conduct himself with an outstanding ethical approach.

“You are being groomed to be the next group of lawmakers and policymakers, you can’t be doing the way you feel like you want to handle the event. You got to be professional in nature. I don’t have any issue with Mr. Rabauliman. I just hope the best for him and the best for the victim, but we have to be mindful in our official capacity how we conduct ourselves.”

“I am not saying I am perfect, I have my flaws” but the issue was affecting his committee. “I am looking into it and will get to the bottom of it and treat it equally and fairly,” he added.