Propst: ‘Private’ meeting violates OGA

Posted on Apr 26 2017

Tag: agency, Attorney General, Commonwealth Lottery Commission, Propst Private

Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan) said an alleged private meeting by the Commonwealth Lottery Commission during a recess yesterday could be a possible violation of the Open Government Act or Public Law 8-41.

OGA’s Section 5 states “all meetings of the governing body of a public agency shall be open, and public and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the governing body of a public agency, except as otherwise provided by this Act.”

Propst said he would question who the commission met in a private room. “In fact, everyone has the right to know. I have an idea who they met with and I want them to answer who.”

He added the meeting was not an executive session but an “illegal forum” as he saw acting governor Victor B. Hocog allegedly call the commission members—chair Mark O. Rabauliman, Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson, and Public Safety Commissioner Robert Guerrero.

“The lieutenant governor has no right to call them in, especially with Viola Alepuyo. All of that’s illegal and a direct conflict of interest. I would file a formal complaint with the Attorney General,” said Propst.

Jon Perez | Reporter

Jon Perez began his writing career as a sports reporter in the Philippines where he has covered local and international events. He became a news writer when he joined media network ABS-CBN. He joined the weekly DAWN, University of the East’s student newspaper, while in college.

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