by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - The Attorney General's Office responds to a letter from Senator Rory Respicio that accuses the office of political interference related to a personnel matter at the Port Authority of Guam involving six terminated employees who have filed appeals at the Civil Service Commission.

The Attorney General's Office says it was never their intent to interfere with the administrative process of the CSC. That statement was issued in response to concerns raised by Senator Respicio on Monday regarding an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged improper actions at the Port Authority. A statement from the AG's Office went on to read that they were e only concerned with any criminal aspects that may or may not arise out of this situation. The statement issued last night explained that assistant

Attorney General Nelson Werner requested that certain information the Civil Service Commission possesses or soon will posses may potentially interfere with the ongoing criminal investigations, if released. However the AG's Office has since determined that some of the information may be needed for employees to defend themselves in civil service appeals. The AG's Office also clarified that Chief Deputy Attorney General Phil Tydingco and Chief Prosecutor J. Basil O'Mallan III voluntarily recused and screened themselves off from all matters related to the investigation back in early January and then formally made the request in a letter addressed to AG Leonardo Rapadas.

The statement notes that both were not required to remove themselves from the case, but did so "out of an abundance of caution in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety." As we reported Senator Respicio believed AAG Werner's letter to the CSC was political interference and was an attempt by the AG's Office to make Port documents which are public now private by saying that six terminated employees are part of an on-going criminal investigation. The lawmaker added 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. The investigation as we reported centers around the handling of former port marketing administrator Bernadette Stern Meno's work injury. Meno is currently employed at Sen. Respicio's office.