14 new officers join Corrections

Fourteen cadets graduated yesterday from the 7th Cycle Corrections Academy, a welcome addition to the short-staffed Department of Corrections.

Rachel Juana Rebuenog, daughter of two Corrections officials, was named class valedictorian. She is the first female valedictorian of the Corrections Academy in the CNMI.

Colin Luzama Kileleman is the class salutatorian.

A lone police cadet, Daniel J. Narro, also graduated from the same academy. He grabbed the Leadership and Physically Fit awards.

In an interview, Rebuenog, 22, who said she has been gunning for the top award since the beginning, feels very blessed and happy about getting it.

“To have it is an honor,” she said.

Rebuenog, who is a mother of two daughters, said she just wanted to see how far she could go that will make her family proud.

“And I did it. It’s a very exciting, overwhelming feeling,” said Rebuenog, who graduated from Marianas High School in 2013.

Rebuenog said they had the best instructors for the training that lasted two and a half months.

Her parents are Corrections lieutenant Francisca Rebuenog and Corrections captain David Deleon Guerrero.

David Deleon Guerrero, who belongs to the 1st Cycle Corrections Academy, said it’s a blessing that her daughter is the class valedictorian. “She makes me proud.”

Corrections Commissioner Vincent S. Attao cited the support of the Torres administration in getting the academy going.

With the 14 new Corrections officers, DOC now has 102 officers.

Attao disclosed that another Corrections Academy will kick off in about a month or two. The additional 18 cadets in the next academy is being eyed to augment the shortage of manpower at DOC.

Attao said the manpower shortage is now being addressed.

“With the recruitment again with the new cycle that we anticipated, it’s [going to] put us in a better situation with respect to manpower,” he said.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres congratulated the new graduates in his brief remarks during the graduation ceremony held at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Hibiscus Hall.

Aside from Rebuenog and Kileleman, the other new Corrections officers are Keith Quiming Lizama, Franklin Pangelinan Santos, Lynnae Camacho Cabrera, Tarius Kapwich, Jose Mendiola Lizama, Lorenzo Mettao Lifoifoi, Jack John Camacho Pua, Romeo Selepeo Herman Jr. Kelvin Kasian Simina, Sid Xavier Mikel Nepaial, Michael Ogo Manglona Jr., and Alvir Paras Masga.