Manibusan takes oath for 3rd term

Edward E. Manibusan takes his oath of office for his third term as the CNMI’s Attorney General before Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan’s Azucena last Saturday. Also in the photo are Manibusan’s wife, Delfina, and family members. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Edward E. Manibusan took his oath of office last Saturday for his third term as the CNMI’s Attorney General and vowed to engage the administration of Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang in making changes to regulations that are necessary to curb waste and abuse in the administration of contracts and other expenditures of public funds.

Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja administered the oath of office for Manibusan during a ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan’s Azucena Room.

Manibusan secured another four-year term after getting 7,524 votes against former Superior Court associate judge Juan T. Lizama, who received 6,113 votes, in the Nov. 8 general elections.

In his speech, Manibusan said they will be ready to provide legal advice to Palacios, his executive department, the autonomous agencies, and public corporations on the basis of law and that they will demand their adherence to the rule of law. He said the Office of the Attorney General welcomes this new opportunity to effect changes in the function and operation of the new Palacios-Apatang administration.

“We have the opportunity to effect change to meet the demands of the institution of laws and regulations by engaging the leadership through meetings, providing timely legal advice and collaborating on matters beneficial to the interest of the Commonwealth,” he said.

Manibusan disclosed that they have already started work on assignment of counsels to work with Executive Branch agencies.

He said they will advance their meeting agenda with individual department secretaries as soon as they take office to discuss ongoing issues affecting the agency and serving their legal needs.

In the near term, Manibusan said, he will work with the Legislature to pass laws that ensures the OAG’s independence from political interference.

He vowed to continue all efforts to protect consumers from unscrupulous business practices.

The AG said he will see to it that their office keeps the community safe by prosecuting those who commit violent acts.

He said he will continue to protect the environment and ensure an open and honest government.

Manibusan admitted that he was initially hesitant about pursuing a third term and that he shared that hesitation with his family and colleagues.

“I looked back at my eight years in office and I asked myself whether I have fulfilled or attempted to fulfill the mandate given to the office by our citizens when they chose to elect their attorney general,” he said.

Manibusan said his term began with a budget crises when the government was looking for ways to pay its obligations and the Public School System was in a budget battle with the administration.

“We went through a state of emergency disasters in the wake of Typhoons Soudelor, Mangkhut, and Yutu,” he said.

He said it was also the beginning of their legal battle to retain the CNMI’s sovereign immunity, and their legal battle to ensure a safe community by defending a challenge to the gun law.

Manibusan said the OAG stayed the course with the initiatives he formed during his first term. He said these initiatives were to ensure the independence of the OAG, improve and strengthen the criminal code, work with agencies to improve the procurement code and assist the agencies with their legal needs, support all law enforcement, and ensure the security and safety of citizens.

In highlighting some of the major achievements of the OAG, Manibusan said they successfully obtained a major victory in the 9th Circuit which ruled that the Commonwealth enjoys sovereign immunity against suits in the federal court arising out of Commonwealth law.

“This was a very important decision for the Commonwealth as we have eliminated substantial claims [that] can be brought against the Commonwealth in the federal court,” the AG said. He said successfully defended the challenge to his common law powers to sue Executive Branch agencies and officials and successfully challenged executive and legislative salaries.

He said they increased their ability to support vulnerable children by drafting a Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, which became a law. In the succeeding year and with the support of Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja and the court, the CNMI now has a Child Support Guidelines that ensures that children get the support they need.

He said the OAG’s Criminal Division was successful in a number of important cases in the Superior Court and in the CNMI Supreme Court—decisions that have “stare decisis effect on our criminal laws and procedures.”

“I believe the Office of the Attorney General overall performed exceptionally well,” said Manibusan, citing the pursuit for the recovery of money as in the case of M/V Luta, Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC, and illegal overtime payment against members of the Executive Branch Cabinet.

Manibusan also talked about their many other projects.