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Inos refers Fitial extradition resolution to the OAG
Gov. Eloy S. Inos has referred to the Office of the Attorney General a newly adopted House resolution requesting the governor to take the necessary steps to extradite former governor Benigno R. Fitial to face the criminal charges filed against him, press secretary Angel Demapan said yesterday.
“Governor Inos has referred the resolution to the Office of the Attorney General for legal advisement and recommended action,” Demapan said, when sought for comment.
The House adopted Resolution 18-56 on Monday by a vote of 13-3 with one abstention and three absences.
The resolution is “respectfully requesting” Inos to take the necessary steps for Fitial’s extradition. It is authored by acting speaker Frank Dela Cruz (Ind-Saipan), along with six co-sponsors.
Inos, while he was still in Washington, D.C. last week, said international extradition is a function of the federal government and not the local government. Fitial is believed to be in the Philippines where his wife hails from.
But Dela Cruz asked whether Inos’ statement means he will not do anything to bring Fitial back.
The House adoption of the resolution comes a few weeks after Fitial’s former attorney general Edward Buckingham was convicted and sentenced on charges similar to those that Fitial faces.
Only Fitial remains unserved with an arrest warrant in connection with the alleged conspiracy case, among other things. Police and ports police officers that allegedly were only following Fitial’s orders had already been served with arrest warrant.
Fitial stepped down on Feb. 20, 2013, just before the start of his impeachment trial at the Senate to determine whether he should be removed from office. The House impeached him on 18 charges of corruption, felony, and neglect of duty.
