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Senate chided for ‘interfering’ in eviction issue
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Posted on May 24 2000
Irked by the Senate’s intrusion into its own affairs, House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial has chided what he described as “inappropriate actions” displayed by his counterpart during the controversy surrounding the transfer of the Washington Representative Office from the Legislature building.
In a letter to Senate President Paul A. Manglona, he cited in particular a legal opinion written by its legal counsel Steve Woodruff that became part of the motion submitted by Resident Rep. Juan N. Babauta to the Superior Court.
Mr. Woodruff argued in his opinion that the proper method for removing the Washington Representative from the office would have been to initiate a legal proceeding, according to Mr. Fitial.
“Since this matter did not concern the Senate office space, why were you asking for such a detailed legal opinion,” he asked in the letter to Mr. Manglona.
Mr. Babauta, during the court hearing May 15, agreed to move out of the office he is currently occupying to transfer to the official residence of the House Speaker also in Capitol Hill. Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama also maintained that the House has the authority to assign that room to any of its members since it was provided only to Mr. Babauta by previous leaders.
Mr. Fitial has maintained that the space is needed by the House since two members, Reps. David M. Apatang and Martin B. Ada, are sharing an office. The room has been assigned to Mr. Ada.
Although the case was settled, he now questioned why Mr. Woodruff’s opinion was included in Mr. Babauta’s complaint. He said that if the Senate counsel “leaked” or otherwise gave this to the Mr. Babauta’s lawyer, Mr. Manglona must take appropriate disciplinary measures against him.
“On the other hand, if you gave this document to Mr. Babauta or his counsel, then your actions were inappropriate. Why would you involve yourself in something that is not your business,” said Mr. Fitial.
“This was a matter of the Washington Representative suing me, not you. If this is true, then I request that in the future you tend to the affairs of the Senate, and not meddle in the business of the House of Representatives,” he added.
