Previous Story
Possible lapsed appointments at DPL, DPW, DPS under review
Acting governor Eloy S. Inos is now reviewing the April appointments of acting secretaries for the departments of Public Lands and Public Works, as well as the March appointment of an acting commissioner of Public Safety, over concerns that these department heads’ temporary appointments may have already exceeded 90 days and the decisions they have been making since then could no longer be legal and binding.
“I’m trying to get the facts. When were they appointed? Have they continuously been serving in that capacity? In other words, was there any break in their appointment?” Inos told Saipan Tribune yesterday when asked about a possible lapse of the 90-day appointments for the three officials.
Inos said the likely lapse of the 90-day appointments was just recently brought to his attention.
Any appointment whether in acting or permanent capacity lapses 90 days from the date of the appointment.
“I’m looking into the appointments. But at the minimum, I want to make sure the actions of those designated officials are official and valid, or legal and binding,” Inos said in an interview.
As of late yesterday afternoon, Inos said there’s no telling whether the 90-day appointments of the DPS, DPL, and DPW chiefs in either acting or permanent capacity had already lapsed.
Based on an independent review of documents from and interviews with Fitial administration officials back in March and April, the 90-day appointments for these three officials already lapsed weeks ago.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial named DPS deputy commissioner Ambrosio Ogumoro as acting commissioner for both DPS and Department of Corrections on or around March 26 when the governor placed then DPS commissioner Ray Mafnas on administrative leave over complaints against his conduct and leadership, among other things.
Fitial reinstated Mafnas as DOC commissioner but not as DPS commissioner, which has since been held by Ogumoro in an acting capacity.
The governor also appointed DPL deputy secretary Pedro I. Itibus as acting DPL secretary on April 2.
Fitial appointed the special assistant for operations at DPW, Vicente B. Castro, as acting DPW secretary also around the time.
The governor appointed Itibus and Castro after he removed former DPL secretary Oscar M. Babauta and former DPW secretary Martin Sablan from their posts for political reasons.
Babauta and Sablan, along with Inos, didn’t follow the governor to the Republican Party when Fitial left the Covenant Party.
Inos, Babauta, and Sablan stayed with the Covenant Party. Inos is now the titular head of the Covenant Party, which Fitial formed more than a decade ago to support his gubernatorial bid. Babauta is the Covenant Party’s 2012 campaign manager, while Sablan is running for a House seat in the Nov. 6 midterm elections.
The governor has not named replacements for the three department heads serving in acting capacities, nor appointed them as permanent department heads needing the advice and consent of the Senate.
Fitial is on a three-week official business trip to the United States. He is expected to be back later this week or during the weekend.
As of late yesterday afternoon, there’s no telling whether Inos would make new appointments for the three departments, on either acting or permanent capacity.
Any appointment for the heads of DPS, DPL, and DPW in a permanent capacity will need the advice and consent of the Senate.
