Minority lawmakers want to see Torres’ records

The House of Representative minority bloc wants to see all records related to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ travel and reimbursements, among others, that are in the possession of the Department of Finance.

Speaking at yesterday’s session of the House, Rep. Tina Sablan (Ind-Saipan) disclosed that the minority bloc, of which she belongs, has made an Open Government Act request with the Finance Department for access to its records on Torres’ travels and requests for reimbursement, among others.

That includes all records related to Torres’ official representation, housing allowances, executive security, chauffeuring services, and reimbursements, “including the policies that determine whether or not the people of the Commonwealth should be paying for all of this.”

“The governor and his associates are subjects of a federal criminal investigation involving money laundering, fraud, and illegal campaign contributions,” said Sablan, “and now we have records documenting the governor’s illegal first-class travel and extravagant expenses paid by the people of the Commonwealth.”

In a letter addressed to Finance Secretary David Atalig, the minority requested to inspect and/or copy, among others, “any and all records detailing the policy of the Commonwealth government with respect to payment for executive secretary, protective, or chauffeur services for the governor, lieutenant governor, first lady, or second lady, including but not limited to forms, regulations, memoranda, or executive orders.”

The request also includes access to records documenting travel expenses paid by the Commonwealth government for Torres and first lady Diann Torres from Oct. 1, 2014, up to the present.

This includes travel authorizations, expenditures, travel vouchers, trip reports, airline tickets, itineraries, per diem payments, meals, accommodations, ground transportation, request for reimbursements, receipts, and government account(s) charged for the expenses.

The OGA request also has the House minority bloc requesting access to records related to first-class, business-class, or any other premium-class travel expenses paid by the Commonwealth government for any person from Oct. 1, 2014, up to the present.

In addition, it asked for records documenting housing or utilities expenses paid by the Commonwealth government for any government official from Oct. 1, 2014, up to the present.

The OGA request was signed by minority bloc leader Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan), Sablan, Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), Rep. Sheila Babauta (Ind-Saipan), Rep. Richard Lizama (Ind-Saipan), and Rep. Donald Manglona (Ind-Saipan).