Teno backs termination of Manglona

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday supported moves to remove Laura I. Manglona from the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Board, but tossed the issue back to the Senate following disclosure that she has violated laws restricting government employees from becoming CUC director.

He prodded the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations, which confirmed her nomination last June, to give Manglona her walking papers.

Tenorio has discussed the plan with Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez, who had earlier called the governor’s attention on the oversight which came two weeks after the CUC director took her oath of office — her second five-year term.

He instructed the senator, who is EAGI vice chairman, to notify Manglona of her termination.

“(I told him to) just write me a letter that because of the fact that she is still working for (PSS), she can no longer serve (CUC Board) and the confirmation approved by the Senate will be nullified,” Tenorio told reporters.

He admitted he had overlooked the requirement that any CUC director should not be a government employee when he re-appointed Manglona to the board last April to represent Rota. He said it was an “unintentional” mistake.

“When I appointed her, I was assured that she was not an employee and that she had terminated her employment,” the governor pointed out, referring to Manglona’s teaching job at the Rota High School.

Manglona could not be reached for comment, although Tenorio disclosed to reporters that she is Honolulu for medical reasons.

Because of the fiasco, the local chief executive vowed to be “more careful” in appointing people to various government board and agencies, particularly to CUC, which saw the resignation of two directors last June.

Villagomez the other day raised concern on Manglona’s appointment, saying it 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.

He claimed Manglona “deceived” senators when she submitted a document to the EAGI informing her resignation as a teacher, although she is still under the payroll of the Public School System up to now and thus remains a government employee.