Senate asked to hold off CUC oversight

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications yesterday asked his fellow lawmakers to hold off their planned oversight into the controversies surrounding the Saipan power project pending completion of an investigation being conducted by the Office of the Public Auditor.

Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez believes that the Legislature should focus on more important issues and give OPA the responsibility of looking into the project.

The Attorney General’s Office has made its own investigation earlier but has yet to submit a written report on its findings.

Senator Ramon S. Guerrero has been pushing for an oversight into the mothballed of the 80-MW power project, accusing Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Executive Director Timothy P. Villagomez of receiving bribes in exchange for the power deal. Mr. Villagomez has denied the allegations.

Mr. Guerrero gave credence to the alleged affidavit last year from Alice Fleming Villagomez, former wife of the CUC official, that alleged instances where the alleged bribery occurred. On the planned oversight, Mr. Guerrero wants issues on conflict of interest, procurement practices and purchases clarified by CUC officials.

The senator also wants to summon representatives of the Burns & McDonnell, the private engineering firm hired by the utility corporation last year, to shed light on the on the power project.

According to Mr. Guerrero, the multi-million project has cost the taxpayers over $330,000 to prepare the specifications alone but CUC is now claiming that it cannot find source of funding for the officials of Burns & McDonnell to come here and face the lawmakers.

“As a senator, my questions will be asked directly to Burns & McDonnell, whom we have paid over $330,000. My question is worth $120 million of taxpayers money that could have easily ended up on the wrong hands,” Mr. Guerrero said.

The utility firm’s Board Chairperson Rosario M. Elameto came to the defense of embattled CUC executive director, claiming that the AGO has already sent an “official notification” on Aug. 4, 1999 on its investigation which said that the allegations were baseless.

Ms. Elameto hit back at Mr. Guerrero saying the former CUC executive director has yet to pay over $300,000 that he owed to the agency during his administration. Despite attempts to collect the debts through the AGO, Mr. Guerrero has never reimbursed any amount of the money to the utility corporation, according to Ms. Elameto.