DPW staffers placed on detail assignments

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Three Department of Public Works employees who face federal charges of lying to the federal government in order to obtain tens of thousands of dollars in overtime payment have been temporarily detailed to other agencies. KUAM News has confirmed that former chief engineer Liberty Perez has been detailed to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

Director Wilfred Aflague says Perez is assisting with several projects including the remodeling of Guma Asan, hot water insulation at healing hearts and the implementation of electronic health records.

Josephine Torres meanwhile has been detailed to the Department of Land Management and Ariel Evarola is now assigned to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

DPW deputy director Carl Dominguez tells KUAM News the three will be detailed there for 90 days or possibly longer until their case in the district court is resolved. Perez, Torres, and Evarola are scheduled to go to trial on July 30.

They're accused of claiming overtime for federally funded projects that they didn't actually perform. Danilo Galiza was also charged but pleaded guilty.