by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Attorney General’s Office is urging Port Authority management to report any allegations of government corruption or misconduct to police.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Phillip Tydingco sent a letter on Tuesday to the Port Board Chair Dan Tydingco and Acting General Manager Joanne Brown advising that any violations of criminal law be reported. Tydingco was directed by Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas to contact the port about the allegations that have been reported in the media in recent weeks about government corruption and alleged evidence of impropriety involving employees surrounding leave and workman’s compensation issues.

Tydingco urged the Port to contact the Guam Police Department and the Prosecution Division to make a complaint or have the matter further investigated if the Port’s investigation found violations of criminal law.

The investigation named several Port employees including Port Deputy General Manager, Anisia Terlaje, who resigned last weekend and Port General Manager, Mary Torres, who is currently off island on vacation.

Torres, hired Attorney Patrick Civille who denied any suggestion of misconduct against her saying Torres’ service to the public has been with high distinction and earned her a reputation for integrity and honesty.

Torres is expected to return to Guam tomorrow and the Port board has not said whether she will return to the agency as Public Works Director Joanne Brown was appointed as the acting general manager to ensure operations continue at the agency. Brown was also tapped to continue the investigation into alleged improprieties at the Port as well as another investigation into recent hiring and claims of nepotism.

As we reported the Civil Service Commission was asked by the Port board to conduct post audits on a number of new hires at the agency. Seven audits were conducted and four were determined to be improper as the individuals did not meet the minimum qualifications to be hired.

Port management has been given until mid January to come up with a plan to resolve the situation. The CSC will review another batch of hires in the coming weeks.