by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The paperwork for former police chief Paul Suba to be reinstated to a police captain, a position he previously held before his appointment as the top brass of the Guam Police Department, has cleared another hurdle. Bureau of Budget Management & Research Director Bertha Duenas confirms Suba's GG1 was cleared for funding.

Duenas says it's now up to the Department of Administration to "determine the appropriateness of the personnel action", adding DOA is the "gatekeeper for compliance with personnel rules."

DOA Director Lou Perez had requested a legal opinion from the Attorney General's Office on two conflicting laws. One law - 5 GCA, Section 3104 - allows Suba to return to the classified service in his previous position held prior to his appointment as chief. The other was a law that was passed by lawmakers last year changing the requirements for the police captain position. The law now requires an individual to hold a bachelor's degree in order to be a captain.

Suba does not have a college degree, but Acting Chief Frank Ishizaki has processed the paperwork for his predecessor to return to the force after receiving advice from the AG's Office that Section 3104 is applicable to Suba's situation. Lawmakers just last week repealed that section of the law but Bill 271 is currently being reviewed by the Camacho administration.

Suba indicated his intentions to retire upon the threat of termination by then-acting governor Mike Cruz, who said he would have fired Suba if he didn't retire because of a lack of public confidence in the leadership at GPD following the execution of a search warrant at the KUAM Studios in Harmon. Suba instead took administrative and annual leave and has now asked to return to the department he once led.

DOA meanwhile has yet to receive a legal opinion from the Attorney General's Office that has said the matter remains under review.