by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - An audit on annual leave lump sum payments showed that $302,000 was paid out to 51 employees who artificially resigned so they could cash-in. That means they resigned for a day to claim the money and went back to work the next day.

Since Fiscal Year 2003, $11 million has been paid out in annual leave lump sum payments. Audit supervisor Rodalyn Marquez calls the artificial resignations questionable, telling KUAM News, "Because you would think if they turned around and canceled their resignation, then all actions pertaining to that resignation document to begin with should have been canceled. Yet they were still allowed to receive their lump sum so to us that was questionable as to how that happened."

The Office of Public Accountability spoke with the Department of Administration, which assured no such cases were to happen under her watch and will be cracking-down on individuals who try to cash in. Marquez says those who want to collect their lump sum but come back to work for the government will have to compete for the position and go through the hiring process all over again.