Tina calls for Tim’s resignation; Floor Leader says ‘hold on’

Rep. Christina Sablan on Friday called for the resignation of Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez and appealed to House members to take a stand.

But Floor Leader Joseph Norita Camacho disagreed. He said lawmakers should “hold on” and not prejudge Villagomez.

During the session, Sablan pointed out that the indictment of Villagomez and three others for public corruption has caused a very serious blow to public confidence in the CNMI government.

“As representatives of our people we should take a stand and not so tentative in our responses to questions about this issue. And that we should say yes he should resign, he should step down from his position,” Sablan said.

Sablan, who is called the “Lone Ranger” in the House for standing alone in opposing to passage of many legislations, said she understands that people should presume the lieutenant governor innocent until proven guilty.

“But even if he is ultimately acquitted, the fact that we have such a high ranking public official, a lieutenant governor, who previous to that was a congressman and during his term as congressman he was chairman of public utilities committee and before that he was executive director of CUC. And now he is being indicted for public corruption at CUC and in the middle of this humungous crisis we are facing with our utilities, I see no other possibility except that he should step down,” she said.

Sablan told Saipan Tribune after the session that she believes that lawmakers would do right to the people and to their constituents “to go ahead and take that stand.”

Responding to Sablan’s statement in the session, Camacho said he understands the process because he already tried both—being prosecutor and defense’s counsel.

Camacho said the lawmakers should allow the legal process to move forward.

“We should be mindful not to prejudge people because I have seen it many times where the CNMI prosecutor makes mistakes, where federal prosecutor makes mistakes. And that’s what the jury is for,” he said.

The Floor Leader asked what if Villagomez is acquitted.

“What do we say then? I’m sorry that I said that you should resign when lo and behold you are found innocent,” Camacho said.

As to the issue of impeachment, Camacho asked his colleagues anew to be mindful that just because they don’t like the governor or lieutenant governor or that the people disagree with their policy, are not grounds for impeachment.

“I’ve been here for eight months. I have never said I do not want to work with the administration,” he said.

The Floor Leader said if somebody can show grounds or real evidence that there are reasons to impeach a person, then he would support it.

“But we are not there yet! And I’m sorry letters to the editors are not evidence,” Camacho said.

Rep. Stanley Torres earlier said Villagomez should at least take a leave of absence if he is not resigning while the case is pending or investigation is ongoing.

Torres also stated that he is not aware of anyone from the Legislature pushing for impeachment.