Guam - Senator Rory Respicio is concerned about what he believes is "political interference" on the part of the Attorney General's Office. Senator Respicio in a letter to AG Leonardo Rapadas is specifically referring to a letter from Assistant AG Nelson Werner to the Civil Service Commission last week which informed the agency of an ongoing criminal investigation into the six employees who were terminated from the Port Authority of Guam. The investigation as we reported centers around the handling of former Port Marketing Administrator Bernadette Stern Meno's work injury.  AAG Werner specifically requested that the Commission refrain from compelling parties to disclose documents produced in response to the Office's inquiry into the matters. The six employees have filed an appeal with the CSC to their terminations.  Senator Respicio says the AG's office is attempting to make the Port documents which are public; now private by saying these employees are part of an on–going criminal investigation.  The lawmaker adds this is an unusual memo from the AG's office inserted into a personnel matter that appears to be an attempt to distract CSC members from focusing strictly on the merits of the appeals. He also contends this could be a stall tactic to prevent the employees to prepare their motions, so that the AAG Werner can secure indictments against them.

Sen. Respicio in his letter to Rapadas, also points out that Chief Deputy Attorney General Phil Tydingco is the brother of Port Authority of Guam Chairperson Dan Tydingco (who he claims is allegedly behind all the allegations made by Port employees).  Sen. Respicio renewed former Senator Judi Guthertz request that Rapadas appoint a special prosecutor to look into the allegation and requested the Chief Deputy AG be disqualified from any matter specifically involving the Port. As we reported Sen. Respicio hired one of the terminated employees, Bernadette Stern Meno. He wrote that although he has refrained speaking publicly about the CSC matter, "this latest attempt by certain individuals in your office working with the Port's Chairman and legal counsel, to interfere with this case and restrict the employees rights to fair and impartial due process through the CSC, requires me to stand publicly against any form of threats, intimidation or coercion against government workers and the process that is afforded to them," stated Respicio.