A response to Sen. Reyes

This is in response to Sen. Pete Reyes’ recent letter to the editor regarding the Pagan mining issue.

First, let me say that I have great respect and admiration for Senator Reyes. In my opinion, he is one of the best legislators in the CNMI. So it was disheartening to read his letter and realize that he does not understand who I am, why I have been fighting so hard, and why it is so important to me. I will try to answer Senator Reyes’ concerns as best I can.

Senator Reyes asks who I am to the CNMI. I am the grandson of Estella Sablan Pangelinan. Her parents are Mariano Duenas Pangelinan and Elisa Reyes Sablan. My grandfather is Antonio Diaz Perez of Tamuning. His grandfather is Antonio Sablan Diaz of Saipan. I am, therefore, closely related to many people here on Saipan and my family remains very much a part of the CNMI. Close relatives include former Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, his wife Sophie (my father’s first cousin), and Tim P. Villagomez (my second cousin). I was named after former Guam senator Pedro Diaz Perez who is my grandfather’s brother. I seem to be related to half the legislature through the Tudela, Pangelinan, Sablan, Muna and the Diaz families. I am even related to Cinta Kaipat and yes, even to Senator Pete Reyes. Nan Lia Toliug and my grandmother are first cousins.

I may not be eligible to vote in the CNMI, but I own land in Guam, on Rota and Saipan. My wife, who is also Chamorro, looks forward to our retiring here on Saipan. Therefore, we have a vested interest in what happens here. Senator Reyes is right—I live in the U.S. mainland with many comforts and opportunities that people in the CNMI do not enjoy. But honestly, I would rather live here. I love these islands. It makes me ill to see the suffering and hardship that the people here endure year after year. I cannot sit back and do nothing.

I have indeed, as Senator Reyes said, been very vocal on the Pagan mining issue. But to answer the Senator’s question—no, I have no personal financial interest in mining nor in anything having to do with the development of Pagan.

Never in the last three years of fighting to protect this tremendous opportunity for the CNMI have I knowingly made a false statement or one that did not have a basis in fact. My letter to the editor “Fiction vs Reality,” is no exception. Section III.B.1 of the Bridgecreek/JG Sablan agreement binds Bridgecreek to provide funding by means of “its own resources, the resources of investors, or lenders.” Section III.B.2 specifies “up to $5 million in cash, as needed, to initially launch the project.” Section III.B.8 says they’ll pay the $20,000 annual obligation to Public Lands for 2006. There are simply no other financial obligations listed in the agreement. Bridgecreek cannot be held to invest the $10 million figure that they tout.

Senator Reyes may be partially correct about JG Sablan’s involvement in the mining operation. Section III.B.7 says that Bridgecreek is responsible for providing information on the company that will perform the extraction of pozzolan from Pagan. This is consistent with what John Carlson told me personally. However, Section V.A “Construction Liability”, says both parties have the duty and responsibility for the actual construction and daily operations of the project. My interpretation of these, influenced by what John Carlson told me, is that they’re bringing another company in to do the actual mining.

As for whether John Carlson has actually said that DOI Secretary Cohen endorses his joint venture, I never said he did. But I do say that he drops Cohen’s name frequently and implies that Cohen will be disappointed if the deal falls through. People therefore, have the impression that Cohen endorses the deal and I wanted to set the record straight.

I hope that Senator Reyes will accept my help on the task force, not as an outsider who wants to dictate and decide what is right or wrong for our people, but as a member of the community who has the misfortune, like so many others, of having to find employment off island. I also want to assure everyone that I am participating in the task force in person, and that none of my costs are being paid by the CNMI. I used my NWA mileage to pay for the ticket, I am staying with relatives, my sister Kathleen gave me $1500 for expenses, and my father gave me $300 for expenses. That’s where my funding is coming from. They too want to see the Pagan mining handled fairly and properly so that the CNMI gets the maximum benefit possible.

Peter J. Pangelinan Perez
via e-mail