Teno asked to terminate CUC director

Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez has pressed the governor to terminate a newly re-appointed director of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for violation of existing law that prohibits government employees to sit in the policy-making body.

He also raised concern the appointment of Laura I. Manglona would affect the credibility of the government-owned utility firm which is very crucial at this time in light of the ongoing dispute stalling the 80-megawatt power plant on Saipan.

Villagomez claimed Manglona, who was confirmed by the Senate to the CUC board last June, “deceived” the Committee on Executive Appointment and Governmental Investigations when she submitted a document informing her resignation as teacher at the Rota High School.

Manglona, who represents Rota to the CUC Board, is still teaching, and thus remains a government employee, according to the senator. “She should be out,” Villagomez told in an interview. “If she doesn’t resign, the governor should terminate her fiduciary responsibility.”

The board director could not be reached for comment on the senator’s allegations, which came two weeks after she was sworn into office during a recent CUC board meeting where she was elected as secretary.

Villagomez has already asked Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to remove her from the board, but the local chief executive has yet to act on his request.

He said that Manglona could not also be made to choose between the board seat and her teaching job because she had made it appear earlier that she resigned from the high school. “It’s too late,” he explained.

Apparently, the senator said, she only submitted a resignation letter to mislead the EAGI which delayed her confirmation for two months to give her enough time to make that decision.

No letter was sent to the governor, the high school principal nor to Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos despite informing the committee that she gave a copy to these officials.

“She was trying to deceive the committee. I don’t think the CNMI government should have a board member for CUC who may have her credibility under question,” Villagomez pointed out.

Manglona was re-appointed to CUC board by the governor last April after her first five-term ended. Her confirmation, however, was stalled after the EAGI, which has jurisdiction over government appointments, found out about her job at the school.

Villagomez believed Tenorio was not aware of her status when he made the nomination. “She is still an employee up to now,” he said.

At least two CUC board directors, including former chair Juan S. Dela Cruz, were forced to resign in recent months due to this restriction provided under the law as well as other requirements for members of the body which creates policies for the autonomous agency.