FLASHBACK – June 7, 2012

Jun. 7, 2000

Kumoi to Tinian, Rota senators: Give up $60K allowance

Keeping a tight watch on his colleagues’ expenditures, Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero yesterday prodded senators from Rota and Tinian to give up the $60,000 subsistence allowance each of them receives annually for holding office on Saipan. He said that such funding, although approved by the full body in a Senate resolution, should be presented before the public to allow them to decide whether it is necessary. Scrapping the allowance could help the government cut costs, providing additional resources to critical programs like education and health, Mr. Guerrero wrote in a four-page letter to Senate President Paul A. Manglona.

AGO: House bills on NMIRF violate constitution

The Attorney General’s Office has warned the House of Representatives against the passage of two proposed measures affecting the CNMI Retirement Fund which violate the Commonwealth Constitution. Assistant Attorney General Elliot A. Sattler has conducted an analysis on House Bill 12-126 which will allow the conversion of unpaid salary to Retirement Fund vesting service, as well as HB 12-070 which will provide Fund loans for emergency purposes. According to Mr. Sattler, the grant of emergency loans to members appears to be contrary to the Constitution and the investment guidelines of the Commonwealth statute.

Jun. 7, 2001

If he runs: Kumoi has to resign Senate seat

Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero will have to resign his current post if he accepts the invitation to run as Jesus R. Sablan’s running mate in the November elections. It seems only Guerrero will be affected by a constitutional provision citing the necessity of officials seeking higher offices to resign upon filing their certificate of candidacy. The CNMI Constitution says that any elected public official shall resign from office upon certification as a candidate for another public office if the term of office sought begins before the end of the term of the office held.

Manglona scorns teacher reduction

Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona has appealed to the Public School System to abandon plans to cut Rota’s share of teaching staff, warning it would be detrimental to student achievement. Manglona, in a letter addressed to Education Commissioner Dr. Rita H. Inos, aired his opposition over what he termed as discrimination on the part of PSS to deprive Rota’s children the ample number of teachers the students are entitled to. “Such reduction policy would mean hardship, discrimination, threat to accreditation, and reduction in the quality of education in Rota,” said the mayor.

Jun. 7, 2002

L&M Enterprises: A business borne out of gusto

Childless for eight long years since they got married, Lito and Malou Mendoza had an intense desire to have kids. Consequently, Lito, an architect, did not allow his wife to work as a nurse. To keep the housewife busy, the couple decided to put up a business from her hobby of preparing longanisa and tocino meat products, that eventually gave birth to several businesses that expanded to landscaping, construction and insurance. After the birth of the L & M Enterprises in 1987, the Mendoza couple was blessed with children shortly after. Krizia, now an incoming 10th grader on Saipan, and Chandelle, an incoming 6th grader, have been the continuing inspiration of the Mendoza couple as they continue to conquer other markets such as Guam, and possibly tap their native homeland, the Philippines, for expanding business operations further.

AGO slaps woman with child neglect lawsuit

A 22-year-old mother of three is facing three-count charges of child neglect amid complaints that she failed to provide adequate supervision, medical care, food, clothing and shelter for her children. The Attorney General’s Office, through prosecutor Antonette R. Villagomez, filed the charges against Delora Taman Hossuin, a resident of Susupe. In a court complaint docketed at the Superior Court, Villagomez alleged that Hossuin’s negligence threatened her three children’s physical and mental well-being. The defendant has been summoned to make a court appearance on June 24 with respect to the charges. According to reports compiled by the Department of Public Safety, Hossuin has a history of leaving her minor children unattended.