EAGI poised to investigate CUC chief

Amid denials by the parties involved in the bribery allegations on the controversial Saipan power project, a Senate committee is set to investigate Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Executive Director Timothy P. Villagomez to finally determine whether these claims from his former wife are valid.

The Senate Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations will meet with the Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the Public Auditor within the next few days in their search for answers on the claims contained in a purported affidavit from Alice Fleming Villagomez, who is now divorced from CUC chief.

“The meeting is just to find out from the AG and OPA what is going on and what has happened since these allegations were made,” said Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano, who heads the committee tasked with the probe.

The decision to summon officials from the two agencies was reached during a meeting of EAGI members last Tuesday, five days after Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero formally sought the investigation based on the affidavit reportedly signed by Mrs. Villagomez in January last year.

Mr. Adriano stressed, however, that the panel has yet to decide whether to conduct a full-scale inquiry, adding that results of the discussion with the AG and the public auditor will “chart the course” of the investigation.

Citing the statement from Marubeni Corp. denying charges that it bribed Mr. Villagomez to influence bidding on the power project, the EAGI chair said the committee may ask officials of the Japanese conglomerate for a meeting to shed light on the issue.

“That’s a positive development that will be part of our fact-finding,” Mr. Adriano explained. “But we have to discuss whether Marubeni needs to be part of the investigation.”

Mr. Guerrero, however, refused to comment if the denial by both parties involved in this case will substantially weaken the allegations. “It’s now up to the EAGI committee to look into that,” he said in a separate interview.

Marubeni broke its silence the other day, insisting the affidavit linking the company to the alleged bribery was false as it denied having relations with a certain Mr. Kobayashi or NK3, the firm he reportedly represented.

Mr. Villagomez has called the allegations “lies” and has threatened to bring the matter to court for libeling his family. He also bandied AG’s findings clearing his name from the charges.

Earlier, members of the EAGI reacted mildly on Mr. Guerrero’s move as they cautioned the committee from forging ahead with the probe in light of the AG’s decision.