Babauta: MPLA agrees to resume talks with Verizon

Responding to the clamor by Verizon’s employees for him to intervene in the Marianas Public Lands Authority’s lawsuit against the company, Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday paid the workers a visit at their Susupe offices and assured them that the MPLA had agreed to get back to the negotiating table in the hope of ending litigation.

Babauta said he met with the MPLA’s board members, who agreed to a 30-day “cooling off” period to allow the agency and Verizon’s owners, Micronesian Telecommunications Corp. and Pacific Telecom Inc., to proceed with negotiations to settle their dispute.

Babauta also said the MPLA has agreed to extend the Superior Court’s deadlines for the filing of responsive pleadings related to its lawsuit to allow it and the company to focus on negotiations.

PTI welcomed this development, with former CNMI Chief Justice Jose Dela Cruz—a member of the company’s board and negotiating panel—saying, “Nothing is gained by fighting things out.

“I’m happy. We’re looking forward to sitting down again,” Dela Cruz added.

The employees, who trooped to the Governor’s Office Friday last week to urge the governor’s intervention in the Verizon-MPLA dispute, apparently shared this sentiment, greeting the governor’s statement with claps and smiles.

“It’s very fair for everybody else, not just for the employees but also for everybody in the CNMI,” said Verizon office clerk Velma Fleming. “[I’m] not feeling that [my] job is at risk now that we came to an understanding.”

Another employee who has been with the telecom firm for seven years but requested anonymity viewed the governor’s statement as positive and remains optimistic that the company and the MPLA would eventually reach an amicable settlement. “It’s really good to hear that. That’s what we requested and he [governor] took action about it.”

Babauta went to Verizon’s main offices in Susupe before noon yesterday and spoke before dozens of employees at the lobby. The company’s general manager, Tony Mosley, greeted Babauta and later thanked the governor for his support, assuring everyone of the telecom firm’s commitment to stay in the CNMI for the next few decades.

Babauta said he met with the MPLA board this week as promised and requested the agency to stop litigating and return to the negotiating table. He said the MPLA agreed to a “cooling off” period and expressed willingness to extend it if necessary.

“I was very pleased with this result because I think negotiations can resolve this dispute and, ultimately, cause the complete withdrawal of the lawsuit. However, both sides must show a willingness to engage in good faith negotiations for this to occur,” Babauta said.

“I can say now that I think that there is nothing to prevent MPLA and PTI from coming together to reach an agreement that is fair and reasonable for everyone. I encourage both parties upon coming together to negotiate in good faith to make this happen,” the governor added.

The governor assured that the MPLA would negotiate in good faith, saying that the agency appeared very open to different possibilities to resolve the dispute with the company.

He refused to comment on the issue behind the dispute, saying that he does not have a complete picture by listening only to the MPLA’s side of the story. He expressed interest in communicating with PTI’s management to hear the company’s side on the issue.

Although the MPLA lawsuit impleaded several causes of action, which included alleged breach of public land leases by the telecom firm, negotiations initially resulted in a deadlock after the company refused to pay some $2.1 million, which the agency had demanded as fees for public lands easement in connection with the company’s underground cables. The telecom firm has at some 800 miles of cable buried underground, but it earlier contended that the right-of-way to bury those cables was part of its franchise.

Babauta said he is willing to participate in the negotiations between PTI and the MPLA if the parties wish. “I do not think it is necessary, but will if the parties request this of me. With or without me, I feel that this negotiation will be a success for PTI, MPLA, and the people of the Commonwealth.”

Babauta also disclosed that the CNMI government, through the Emergency Management Office, has agreed to lease out space to PTI for its Mt. Tapochau tower.