Power plant probe pressed

Insisting there are still questions hovering over the controversial Saipan power project, Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero yesterday pressed the investigation he sought into charges of bribery leveled against Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Executive Director Timothy P. Villagomez.

He gave credence to the reported affidavit last year from Alice Fleming Villagomez, who is divorced from the CUC official, that cited instances where the alleged bribery occurred.

Mr. Villagomez has called the allegations “lies” as he noted that an investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office cleared him of any wrongdoing in connection with the procurement of the new power plant on Saipan.

“If it is true, then an official investigation has to be done. Who can challenge your wife who sleeps with you, lives with you, has kids with you?” asked Mr. Guerrero. “Who is going to challenge her integrity?”

Mrs. Villagomez’ affidavit is in the center of the probe called by the senator, but the CUC chief dismissed her claims as a “result of domestic case.”

When told that this alleged document was made at a time when the Villagomez couple were in the midst of divorce proceedings, Mr. Guerrero responded that “whatever it is, the public has to be informed.”

In yet another attempt to squeeze Mr. Villagomez as head of the government-owned utility corporation, the Saipan senator wrote a letter yesterday asking him to provide documents on some purchases made by his office.

“I would appreciate your fullest cooperation in providing these information at your earliest convenience to my office,” said Mr. Guerrero. “I am also, at the same token, implying the Open Government Act for this request.”

The senator, however, did not disclose why he made this request, saying only that there maybe “conflict of interest” in these transactions.

A former CUC executive director, Mr. Guerrero lashed out at Mr. Villagomez for allegedly accusing him of wrongdoing during his term in office.

“That was six years ago and these power engines are now the power engines we are using today. Tim Villagomez has never built a power plant. That makes me upset,” he told reporters in an interview yesterday.

Noting that questions still linger on people’s mind regarding the bidding of the scrapped 80-megawatt plant, he said CUC has to answer to the public why its initial choice of Marubeni-Sithe was outranked in the independent evaluation.

Experts from Burns & McDonnell, the private engineering hired by the utility corporation last year amid protests from losing bidders, gave highest scores to Enron, Tomen Consortium and HEI/SPP — results contrary to CUC’s findings which they attributed to the different final proposals handed in each evaluation.

While willing to support CUC officials in procuring a smaller-sized plant, Mr. Guerrero said they need to look at existing power engines whether there will be sufficient generation capacity to supply electricity to residents and businesses.

“Yes, I will support [Mr. Villagomez] but we have to do it right. We have to do it properly. We are not going to take anybody for dinner… I worked for CUC for four years, I never did that to any contractor,” he said.