Subpoenas OK’d for Torres, Palacios

The House of Representatives’ Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee approved yesterday subpoenas that will require Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Robert A. Guerrero, and several others to testify before the JGO in its probe on Torres’ expenditures of public funds and travels.

JGO chair Rep. Celina R. Babauta (D-Saipan) said the date of the witnesses’ testimony would be subject to the availability of the House chamber and the JGO members’ schedules.

The JGO also agreed to subpoena first lady Diann T. Torres and Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Gary P. Camacho.

The subpoena will also ask Torres, Palacios, Diann Torres, and Gary Camacho to produce certain documents.

It was Rep. Christina E. Sablan (D-Saipan) who moved to issue subpoenas for Ralph DLG Torres, Palacios, Diann Torres, and Camacho.

Rep. Vicente Camacho (D-Saipan) made the motion to issue subpoenas for Boating Safety officers Emery Kaipat, Adrian Mendiola, and Kevin Aldan.

Rep. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan) made the motion to issue subpoenas for Guerrero, and personal security details for first lady Diann Torres: Flora Aguon and Jhaneeka Atalig.

Rep. Richard T. Lizama (D-Saipan) moved to issue a subpoena for governor’s executive assistant Frances Dela Cruz to testify, and for PSD supervisor Joey Cruz to produce documents.

The JGO previously approved a subpoena for Cruz to testify.

Babauta said they will go back into recess and work on these subpoenas that they just approved and will return on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 10:30am.

Before the start of yesterday’s JGO meeting, Babauta gave a recap of what happened prior to their recess.

She said they had Erin Angela Villagomez Camacho of the Women, Infants, and Children Program submit a notarized affidavit that on March 7, 2019 she and her father went to Kinpachi Restaurant in Garapan to celebrate a private birthday lunch with her father Juan Aguon Camacho, who was the birthday celebrant.

Babauta said Erin Camacho states that after they finished their meal, restaurant staff advised her that Torres had already paid their meal.

Babauta said the governor subsequently submitted a reimbursement memo for a total amount of $2,332 on April 9 2019, which include a receipt from Kinpachi Restaurant dated March 7, 2019, for the amount of $134.

Also, Babauta said, DPS Bureau of Motor Vehicle director Juana C. Leon Guerrero confirmed for the JGO Committee that Torres purchased a private vehicle, bought a car battery for it, and then had the purchase reimbursed two days later.