Atalig tells Kumoi: You’re out!

Rota — Sen. Richardo S. Atalig yesterday lashed out at Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero, whom he described as “radical,” for publicly disclosing his legislative expenditures that he said were justified as the finance department approved them for reimbursements.

He said he can no longer work with the Saipan senator in the two committees he chairs following the latter’s action. Mr. Guerrero was booted out the other day from the Committees on Health, Education and Welfare as well as Judiciary, Government and Law.

“I am disappointed. I don’t trust him,” Mr. Atalig said in an interview. “He should have come to me first to clarify those expenditures. We should be working together in harmony.”

The Rota senator sought to clear his name from criticisms that he was misspending public funds after Mr. Guerrero asked the Office of Public Auditor to investigate expenditures incurred by the Senate in recent months.

He claimed the construction materials he purchased for over $2,140 using HEW funds were intended for the people of Rota for fences and tables they installed around the island municipality. He also donated 10 buckets of paint for the high school.

“I got my own house. I don’t need those materials,” said Mr. Atalig, who has usually assumed a quiet stance in Senate sessions and meetings until Mr. Guerrero’s expose.

He said he felt bad that his colleague made public those documents and did not elaborate on how the expenses were made. He added that Finance Sec. Lucy DLG. Nielsen has already okayed those items for payment. “If they are not justified, why did she approve it?”
Mr. Atalig added: “With $250,000 in overpayment, what is Kumoi trying to do? He questioned my $2,140 expenditures, how can you compare that with $250,000.”

He was referring to the funds that OPA asked Mr. Guerrero to return in 1995 which it said was mistakenly given to him when he was still an executive director of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.

Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano, chair of the Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations, has already asked OPA for the status of the case in apparent retaliation against the expose.

Mr. Guerrero has shrugged off the reactions by his colleagues, saying that he will continue to be a “watchdog” for the public to guard the taxpayers’ dollars.

Ms. Nielsen and members of the Legislature have come to blows for the past two years on the heels of differences on the interpretation of “public purpose” as provided in the Constitution and two recently enacted laws.