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Manglona appeals to Senate to join CNMI House in investigating Torres
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Posted on Dec 24 2019
Sen. Paul Atalig Manglona (Ind-Rota) has requested the Senate to join the House of Representatives in carrying out the investigation in relation to the allegations of public corruption and abuse of public funds by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
“Our colleagues in the House of Representatives spent a great deal of time in their two legislative sessions discussing the recent FBI raids in the CNMI and alleged abuses of the uses of expenditures of government funds,” Manglona said. “As a result, [House] Speaker [Blas Jonathan] Attao has tasked two of the House standing committees to look into this matter further.”
Manglona furnished the Senate clerk with a copy of the letter the House minority bloc sent to Attao.
The senator’s call for a joint-investigation came after his litany regarding his request for assistance from the governor and Finance Secretary David Atalig to be provided with “reliable, factual information pertaining to several financial matters” that could answer concerns on the “drastic decrease in casino business gross receipt taxes.”
“I respectfully ask that the Senate work jointly or in coordination with the House of Representatives in carrying out these legislative inquiries,” Manglona said. “I know I am only a minority member, and who am I to make such a request. However, I am sure, like our House counterparts…are all being pressured by members of the public to do something about these alleged violations of government funds and public trust.”
The senator closed his statement by saying that joining the House in the investigation will improve government transparency and public confidence in the legislative process.
