Guam - Former Port Authority of Guam controller Jojo Guevara believes the agency has violated the law.  His attorney, Jeff Moots, filed a notice of violation with the Civil Service Commission today, alleging the Port has broken the law with respect to hiring a new controller.  Moots says Guam law is clear that management may not fill an employee's position until the appeal is exhausted. 

Guevara previously held the financial services controller position at the Port but was fired late last year for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to defraud the government and cover it up. "That was the position that Mr. Guevara held," Moots detailed. "He was financial controller at the Port and it appears that what they've done is they've violated Guam law by hiring her. There is no other position for controller and then I went back to their staffing patterns that they filed with the legislature from 2007 up to 2012 and there is no vacant controller position."

Moots adds that the Port's records for the Financial Division do not indicate that there were any unclassified positions.  Port general manager Joanne Brown however tells KUAM News that the agency did not replace Guevara's previous position. Brown clarifies that Maria Taitano was hired to be the Port's controller - an unclassified position - and that Guevara previously held the classified financial services controller position. 

We should note that Guevara's brother, Salvadore, was also recently terminated at the Port after it was determined he was not eligible to be hired as an Accountant II.  But as we reported the CSC found that even though Guevara wasn't eligible to be hired, management violated the 60-day rule and he should be reinstated.