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Fund forum well attended
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Posted on Mar 15 2012
Govendo says he is not going to cut retirees’ benefits
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo’s courtroom was filled Tuesday with retirees, some elected officials, and other parties involved in the longstanding lawsuit between the CNMI government and the NMI Retirement Fund.
After the whole day forum, Govendo did not issue any orders except to say that he is not going to cut the benefits for retirees, Saipan Tribune learned.
The forum continued yesterday and he is expected to issue a written order based on the forum.
Govendo organized the forum after learning the frustration of the Fund to get members of the government and interested parties together to work toward finding solutions to the pension program’s crisis.
Govendo said the forum is for parties to come together to “voice their concerns, ideas, and recommendations.”
The judge asked the retirees how they feel their pensions cut and who should do those cuts.
Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) was among at least five elected officials who showed up at the forum. Manglona was among the many attendees who spoke at the podium.
Aside from Senator Manglona, among those who shared their comments and views were Commonwealth Retirees Association chairman Oscar Camacho, Juan Sablan, former Fund board chair Sixto Igisomar, Fund legal counsel Viola Alepuyo, Richard Waldo, and Zoning Board chair Herminia Fusco.
Alepuyo said the Fund board does not have the authority to cut the retirees’ benefits.
Alepuyo said the court, however, has a justification to order for cuts of benefits.
“Those cuts they’re not cuts of the pensions. They’re just deferred payments. Because whatever the payment is deferred will eventually have to be paid back to its members,” the lawyer said.
At the forum, some retirees were adamant. They said they do not want their pensions cut at all.
Other retirees said they want their pensions cut. They’re hoping the court will cut their pension because they would rather receive little bit pension now for longer period of time than a lot of pension for the next few years only.
