CEC to hold hearing on Rep. John Paul’s, 5 others’ candidacies

Commonwealth Election Commission board chair Jesus I. Sablan presides over a board meeting at the CEC conference room in Susupe yesterday afternoon. Also in the photo, from left, are CEC commissioner John Attao, CEC executive director Kayla Igitol, and vice chair Esther Yatar, commissioner Leilani Manglona, and commissioner Jesus S. Cepeda. (FERDIE DE LA TORRE)

The Commonwealth Election Commission board will hold a hearing on the validity of the candidacies of six prospective candidates, including that of long-time Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan), in the Nov. 8 general election.

After an executive session yesterday afternoon, upon the advice of their counsel, deputy attorney general Lilian Tenorio, CEC board chair Jesus I. Sablan announced that they have decided to table the matter involving the nominating petition for the candidacies of Alfredo T. Taimanao, Raymond B. Quitugua, Rep. John Paul Sablan, Marissa Flores, and two others.

Taimanao, Quitugua, Rep. John Paul Sablan, and Flores appeared at the CEC board meeting.

Jesus I. Sablan said the scheduled date for the hearing will be on Aug. 22 starting at 9am.

He said the six affected prospective candidates will be receiving a formal letter from CEC informing them of their decision and what to expect during the hearing. “We have not considered yet whether you are qualified or not. I want to expedite this,” said the chairman, adding that the commissioners will deliberate and make a decision after the hearing.

It was Keith William C. Ada, who is running for a House Precinct 2 seat under the Republican Party, who requested CEC to investigate the validity of the candidacy of Precinct 2 candidate Rep. John Paul Sablan and Precinct 3 candidate Flores, who is Ada’s former wife.

Rep. John Paul Sablan, a Republican, is seeking his sixth term as a House member, under a unified independent team. Flores is running for a House Precinct 3 seat, also under the unified team.

In his complaint to CEC yesterday, Ada said it is well known in Precinct 2 that Rep. John Paul Sablan does not reside in Precinct 2 but in Kagman with his family. Ada said Rep. John Paul Sablan only claims residency in Chalan Kanoa but has not lived there for several years.

“It is my understanding that, in order for a person to run for a House of Representatives seat, the person must physically reside in that precinct and not seek election, or in his case-re-election, on a technicality,” said Ada in his email.

With respect to Flores, Ada said she lives in upper Kagman and that her residency there is verifiable by her videos on her social media profiles.

In a separate interview, Rep. John Paul Sablan said a CEC staff called him yesterday morning informing him about Ada’s email that questions his residency. He said this caught him by surprise because he has been serving his fifth term as a representative representing Precinct 2.

“I have so many billings that I can prove that are billed to me, to my house in CK. I would be happy to…maybe…perhaps if the commissioners, the board of commissioners would want a petition for my living neighbors that surrounding my house to attest that I live there,” the lawmaker said.

Rep. John Paul Sablan said it’s his mother-in-law who resides in Kagman and that he and his wife regularly visit her.

In a separate interview, Flores questioned the timing and intent of her former husband’s complaint.Flores said Ada is gravely mistaken with her residency.

“My children, they live in Kagman. They are two grown adults, two girls. I am also renting in Garapan, which is why I’m a resident of Precinct 3,” she said.

Flores said Ada’s timing and letter is very disturbing.

Taimanao, who is running for Rota mayor as an independent, in an interview said CEC is challenging his residency in Rota or here in the CNMI.Taimanao said CEC told him that he registered in Guam, which he never did.He said when he went back to the Guam Election Commission directors, he asked to see if they have any records of him registering in Guam, and they never did.

Edwin Raymond B. Quitugua, who is running for a Saipan Municipal Council seat, received a letter from CEC dated Aug. 8, 2022, informing him that he did not meet the residency requirement to run for public office.

CEC notified Quitugua that during their review of his petition for candidacy and the affidavit of voter registration, he indicated that he established his CNMI residency only on Feb. 17, 2022.

CEC noted that a candidate for municipal council shall be qualified to vote in the CNMI if he or she is a resident and a domiciliary of the island served by the council for at least three years immediately preceding the date on which the council takes office and must reside on the island or islands served by the council after each election.

Quitugua in an interview said he is appealing to the CEC board because he believes his civil rights are being oppressed and condemned.

“I never gave up my government, even though I left my island 20 years ago,” Quitugua said.

He said his last registration stands as is as Saipan is his domicile.

Quitugua said there is a Superior Court ruling that clarifies his being eligible to run.
“If it has to go court, I’m willing to go to court,” he said.