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‘We’re taking this matter seriously’
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Posted on Mar 26 2012
By Haidee V. Eugenio Reporter
Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos said Saturday that he and Gov. Benigno R. Fitial have yet to talk to Department of Public Safety Commissioner Ray Mafnas about complaints of abuse of his power, as well as about a reported petition by DPS employees for his ouster. But he said the Fitial administration is taking this matter seriously. Inos said the administration, as of Saturday, had yet to see actual copies of the complaint and the petition. He said the administration can’t do anything until it has all the facts and all concerned are heard. “We’re taking this matter seriously. I’m taking it seriously because the worst that can happen to DPS, when you bring the morale down to the ground, you don’t have a civilian-police force. Everyone will be on their own, that’s not the way it’s supposed to be,” he told reporters at a Covenant Party gathering on Saturday. He said Mafnas spoke to him a few days ago and agreed to talk again “to resolve this and get this distraction out the way because we’ve got important mission down at DPS.” “I haven’t discussed anything with the governor as yet. I don’t know that Mr. Mafnas has communicated with the governor.I heard those concerns from the community and it’s only fair that we sit down and talk to Mr. Mafnas,” he said. Inos said regardless of the outcome of a meeting between the governor, him, and Mafnas, “we need to bring stability to DPS. Very important.” He said if the complaints against Mafnas suggest criminal action, then the administration will allow the process to take its course. “But if it’s an administrative thing, that’s something that the governor can resolve with Mr. Mafnas,” he added.
