2 of 3 witnesses expected to testify today in JGO probe

The House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee resumes its hearing today, Thursday, on Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ expenditures, where it expects two of the three witnesses that failed to show up at the start of the committee’s investigation.

As this developed, JGO Committee chair Rep. Celina R. Babauta (D-Saipan) disclosed yesterday that they have subpoenaed Department of Public Safety Commissioner Robert A. Guerrero and three other police officers for documents about a non-disclosure agreement that security details of the governor had allegedly signed.

The NDA is reportedly between the Office of the Governor and DPS as first party, and all Customs, Airport, DPS officers that were at some point assigned as personal security detail, as the second party, of the governor and his family.

Babauta said in an interview yesterday that Police Officer 1 Jomalyn S. Gelacio and Department of Finance’s finance and accounting director Bernadita C. Palacios are expected to provide testimony at the JGO hearing today at 10am.

Babauta said Gelacio have secured Anthony Aguon as counsel, but that she has no information if Palacios will appear with a lawyer. “They have not written or given me a call, or any messages that they will not be appearing. So we do expect them tomorrow,” said the lawmaker, referring to Gelacio and Palacios.

Gelacio was previously assigned as security detail for first lady Diann Torres.

Babauta said the third witness, special assistant for administration Mathilda A. Rosario, has secured Viola Alepuyo as counsel. She said Rosario will testify on July 6 at 10am since Alepuyo is currently in South Korea with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and other members of the delegation for the signing of the travel bubble agreement with the South Korean government.

Alepuyo is board chair of the Marianas Visitors Authority.

Gelacio, Palacios, and Rosario did not show up at the JGO Committee’s hearing last June 23, as they asked Babauta to issue subpoenas that would compel their presence at the hearing. The three also informed Babauta that they invoked their right to have a lawyer present with them at the hearing.

This then prompted the committee to issue subpoenas to all witnesses.

Babauta also disclosed yesterday that they served last Monday a subpoena to DPS commissioner Guerrero and Police Officer Daniel Joab, and last Friday to Police Officer Alex Sakisat of DPS internal Affairs, and DPS official Jose Saures.

Babauta said Guerrero and the three have been served with subpoena to provide documents, email communication, or any form of communication, with respect to the non-disclosure agreement.

“So we’re are just asking them for documents at this time. Those are expected on July 2 from these officers and commissioner,” she said.