Previous Story
IN PROPST’S ETHICS COMPLAINT
Espaldon faces possible discharge
The Guam Legislature’s Committee on Ethics and Standards has finished its investigation of Sen. James V. Espaldon and came out yesterday with recommendations that it submitted to the Office of Speaker Benjamin J.F. Cruz.
Among the recommendation is stripping the Guam senator of his leadership positions. However, should the Guam Legislature feel the need, he may be discharged altogether.
The investigation was in response to Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan) filing an ethics complaint against Espaldon for his role in the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s controversial engine generator procurement earlier this year.
The Guam Legislature’s Committee on Ethics and Standards had recommended yesterday that Espaldon be officially censured, stripped of his leadership positions for the remainder of the Guam legislative term, and require him and his staff to attend a 16-hour refresher course on ethics.
According to Guam Ethics Committee chair Sen. Fernando Barcinas Esteves, the findings of the committee “[does] not reflect on Espaldon’s person [nor] character.”
He added that the recommendations of the committee is subject to a floor vote of at least 10 in support to adopt the recommendations of the committee or to take any other disciplinary action, including suspension or discharge.
Propst filed the ethics complaint last May 16, 2017.
CUC had awarded General Pacific Services Marianas Inc. a contract for the procurement of an engine worth about $11 million. Espaldon acted as a spokesman and a representative for the GPSM contract. According to Guam’s Resolution 239-34, the committee found that Espaldon “in fact knew and in any event should have known” of conflicts of interest with GPSM vice president Phil Roberto and CUC board chair Adelina Roberto. Amelia Toelkes acts as president for GPSM.
The resolution further stated that Espaldon “failed to consider the public’s perception of his actions” and that his actions “reflect poorly upon his office and upon his colleagues.”
