by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - An opinion on by the Attorney General's Office on the law that created the Guam First Commission is still under review by both the Executive Branch and the Guam Legislature. Phil Leon Guerrero deputy press secretary at the Governor's Office says their chief legal counsel, James Canto, and legal counsel at the Legislature are concurrently reviewing the opinion.

Leon Guerrero says legal counsel is also reviewing the law that created the Commission in order to determine if changes need to be made to the law. Governor Eddie Calvo was moving forward on empanelling the Commission but the opinion has now put that effort on hold. "But moving forward what's important is that the administration and Governor Calvo are committed to making sure everyone's voice is heard and brought to the table and we move forward with this military buildup with a Team Guam approach," he said.

The opinion by the AG's Office found the public law that created the GFC inorganic. In particular the opinion took issue with the four legislative representatives to be appointed to the Commission - stating the appointees infringe on the executive powers of the governor and thus violates the separation of powers doctrine mandated by the Organic Act.

Senator Rory Respicio, one of the senators tapped by Speaker Judi Won Pat to serve on the Commission, has stated that he disagrees with the AG's opinion on the GFC, saying he does not agree that the role of the GFC should strictly be an Executive Branch function.