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Senate EAGI panel yet to receive appointees to DPS, DPL, DPW
Up to 4 months since posts were filled temporarily
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Reporter
The Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations confirmed yesterday that it has not received from the governor permanent appointments for secretaries for the departments of Public Lands and Public Works as well as commissioner of Public Safety, even as three to four months had passed since individuals were named to fill the posts in acting capacities.
Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian), EAGI Committee chair, said the panel would have promptly acted on these appointments had they received the names of appointees.
“I could confirm that we have not received any appointees to these positions. It’s been months since these positions were not filled by permanent secretaries,” he said.
Acting governor Eloy S. Inos said on Tuesday that he’s reviewing whether the temporary appointments to these posts have already exceeded the 90-day limit, and to ensure that the actions taken by these acting secretaries and acting commissioner remain legal and binding.
These offices separately confirmed yesterday that Pedro I. Itibus remains as acting DPL secretary since April 2; Vicente B. Castro as acting DPW secretary since April; and Ambrosio Ogumoro as acting DPS since March 26.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial have not named any permanent appointees to these positions nor named new temporary appointees so as not to exceed the 90-day period, which is prohibited under the law.
Fitial won’t be back until late this week or this weekend, and as of late yesterday afternoon, Inos had yet to make a decision whether to name new appointees to these posts.
Fitial fired Itibus and Castro’s predecessors over politics, specifically for not following him back to the Republican Party, from the Covenant Party, whose titular head is now Inos.
