Sablan is NMI govt’s 2018 Employee of the Year

Lt. John Henry M. Sablan, second from left, poses with Finance Secretary Larissa Larson, left, Customs director Joe Mafnas, second right, and Capt. J.J. Atalig, manager of enforcement and K-9. (Erwin Encinares)

John Henry M. Sablan was named the CNMI government’s 2018 Employee of the Year during the pre-Labor Day picnic held at the Garapan Fishing Base last Saturday.

Sablan, a member of the Division of Customs under the Department of Finance, is a Customs lieutenant and supervises the Special Forces branch, including the K-9 unit and investigations. He has been in the department for 14 years.

“I feel very proud and honored to receive this award. I congratulate all the other nominees for a job well done and it’s nice to be appreciated…not only me, but including my team. If not for them I don’t think I would be receiving this award,” he said.

Sablan looks forward to continue delivering the good services and giving his all at Customs.

“…The work that we have done under Gov. Ralph DLG Torres were due to [his initiatives]. In the drug enforcement task force, we have made a lot of strives to fight this war. I am very proud of the work that we do and we would continue to fight that war,” he said.

Finance Secretary Larissa Larson noted that Sablan plays an active role in the activation of the K-9 units and the interception of drugs in the NMI.

“…[Sablan] has also taken a really strong leadership role among the staff and he is really motivating them to stay at the top of their game and really perform. You can see it with interceptions and announcements of finding drugs within the Commonwealth,” she told Saipan Tribune, emphasizing that Sablan’s work is highly dependent on the division working as a team.

“This is a really solid team here [under Sablan] and he is a major part of that,” she noted. “Everybody has a specific role to do and they all do what they are supposed to do, and I am really proud of all of them.”

Sablan’s other boss, Division of Customs director Joe Mafnas, noted that Sablan may be a tad silent but he gets the job done.

“He is a man of few words… He is a doer,” Mafnas said, describing his work relationship with Sablan. “You hardly hear him speak, but he does great things for the division,” adding that Sablan, who was also an instructor at the K-9 unit, is also very passionate.

“I am very happy, and he deserves it,” Mafnas said. Mafnas has been working with Sablan since 2013.

Sablan, who is the son of House vice speaker Rep. Janet V. Maratita (R-Saipan), bested 22 employees under a total of 23 agencies: the Department of Commerce’s Jesse C. Chong, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ Frances Mildred Cruz, Department of Corrections’ Timothy C. Deleon Guerrero, the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services’ Albert Aldan, Department of Labor’s Norlane Arlene V. Rafanan, Department of Lands and Natural Resources’ Frances G. Sablan, Department of Public Lands’ Shane A. Lizama, Department of Public Safety’s Esther Delos Reyes, Department of Public Works’ Tina Marie Aguon, Office of the Governor’s Amy B. Shai, Office of Management and Budget’s Jasmine Lizama, Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality’s Anne Marie Navarrete, Office of the Attorney General’s Carla Torres, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library’s Vincent Donald P. Sablan, Office of Personnel Management’s Tina S. Mesngon, Commonwealth Development Authority’s Esperanza Borja, Marianas Visitors Authority’s David Atalig, Northern Marianas Housing Corp.’s Jacob Muna, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Isabel K. Davis, Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s Jeffrey Reyes, Saipan Office of the Mayor’s Franky Hocog, and Commonwealth Casino Commission’s Ruth Anne P. Sakisat.