AG urges Port to report violations

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Attorney General's Office is urging the Port Authority of Guam's management to report any allegations of government corruption or misconduct to police. Chief Deputy Attorney General Phillip Tydingco sent a letter on Tuesday to PAG board chairman 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 by 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, the same day the board is scheduled to meet. The board has not said whether she will return to the agency as Brown, the director of the Department of Public Works, was appointed as the acting general manager to ensure operations continue at the agency.

Port oversight chair Senator Tom Ada says he saw the AG's letter and has made a similar request to management. "I think at this point to conduct an informational briefing or hearing because of the fact that now you have a law enforcement agency that is taking an interest in it. I think it's best for the committee to kind of stay arm's length from it and let them do their work and sort this thing out," he stated. "I think that's the best thing to do at this point."

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. 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 by either terminating the individuals or moving them to other positions that they qualify for. "I think the fairest thing to do is that employee should be terminated and then get into the application pool like everybody else and go through that process again because it's a totally different job position," said Senator Ada.  "We really have to have the best and qualified employees working down there anything less than that is unacceptable."

The CSC will review another batch of hires in the coming weeks. As for the AG's Office's letter, Brown is working to complete the investigation.  Once that happens, the findings are then expected to be forwarded to the Attorney General's Office.