EAGI: Confirmation of Teno nominee uncertain

A nominee for the board director of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation is facing Senate inquiry over potential violation of a law prohibiting government employees to seek a board position, according to senators.

The individual, whom senators refused to name, is currently employed in the CNMI government. There are two people recently re-appointed by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to the CUC board: Laura I. Manglona, representing Rota and Rosario M. Elameto, representing the Carolinians.

They, along with other newly-nominated members of various government boards, were grilled yesterday by the Senate committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigation in a meeting before their confirmation by senators.

Although the meeting was a formality, Senate approval for all the nominees by the governor is expected to run smooth, except for the CUC appointee.

EAGI chair Sen. David M. Cing said they are awaiting an opinion for the Senate legal counsel where the appointee can assume the post despite her being employed by the government.

The law forbids government employees to seek post in the board of autonomous agencies, including CUC and the Board of Public Lands.

Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, who is a member of the committee, said they have yet to make a decision on the fate of the nominees, but expressed hope that they will be confirmed soon.

Aside from Elameto and Manglona, Tenorio has named two nominees to the board of the NMI Retirement Fund as well as three to the Coastal Resources Management board of appeals.

The new Retirement Fund trustees are Marian DLG Tudela, representing Saipan, and Thomas I. Saures, for the Carolinians. For CRM directors, the recent appointees are Dolores S. Taman, for Saipan, Women and Carolinians for a three-year term; Edward A. Villagomez, Tinian for two years; and Juan M. Santos, Rota for a year.

Yesterday’s meeting was in lieu of a public hearing, which is required under the law. “We just asked the nominees to come in and answer some of the questions the committee have,” Reyes said.

“But in cases where we are not satisfied, then of course a public hearing is in order,” he added.

All appointments made by Tenorio since his assumption to office in January 1998 have been confirmed by the Senate, except for acting Attorney General Maya B. Kara whose nomination was withdrawn at the last minute following clear rejection by senators.

A former House legal counsel, Kara has drawn the ire of some senators over allegations of “conflict of interest” and several decisions she has made since her appointment in July last year.