Adelup reviewing AG's opinion on Commission

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - So will the Calvo Administration move forward in empanelling the Guam First Commission? On Monday the Attorney General's Office deemed the law establishing the Commission to be inorganic. According to Acting Governor Ray Tenorio, the AG's opinion is being reviewed by the governor's legal counsel and policy advisor

"We're all about collaboration and making sure everybody's voice is heard and regardless of whether the Guam First Commission is empanelled, as it was envisioned in the law or not, we are going to make sure that everybody's voice is sought," Tenorio told KUAM News.

The AG's Office believes the law violates the separation of power doctrine mandated by the Organic Act. The law's author, Senator Rory Respicio, said he found the opinion "appalling, autocratic and amusing" for the attorney general to conclude the Guam Legislature cannot mandate a law requiring the Government of Guam to speak with one voice when dealing with the federal government.

The governor's chief legal counsel, James Canto, has proposed to speaker won pat a concurrent review of the AG opinion that may result in working together to fix any deficiencies in the law.