Lieutenant Governor critical of administration's procurement tactics

No press conference with Governor Lou Leon Guerrero today, but the island's second-in-command speaks out on last week's press conference which included muting the media and procurement during this pandemic. And you may be surprised at what he had to say about the Administration's efforts to fight the virus.

A one-night stay at the government's quarantine facility at the Pacific Star left now former chief of staff Tony Babauta packing his bags, abruptly resigning last Friday citing personal reasons.

When KUAM News asked Tenorio if he thought Babauta's overnight is something reimbursable by FEMA because he wasn't feeling well," he replied strongly, "No. No, no, no."

Unlike last Thursday's press briefing that censored local media, the lieutenant governor wasn't backing away from answering questions.

"First, since I am part of the administration, I will apologize," he stated. "I think Carlo Branch and Janela [Carrera] should apologize for it."

Although the media was shut down by Carrera, Adelup's communications director, Tenorio took some heat answering a range of questions, regarding COVID-19 procurement – specifically, hotels being used by the government for quarantine/ isolation facilities. Leading the government down the paper trail reportedly through emails it appears to be the governor's legal counsel and son-in-law, Haig Hyun.

One email stated "below is a list of items that I have procured and I am waiting for fully executed documents to catch up. Negotiated pricing requires payment upon invoice. The places need to be paid promptly to meet their cash flow needs".

One of those facilities sent an invoice on March 25.  The Pacific Star billed GovGuam a little over $500,000 for 389 rooms for 14 nights at $100 per night.

On our interactive talk show, Containing COVID, we had the following dialogue:

Sabrina Salas Matanane, KUAM: "Because of the way the procurement or whatever this was for these hotels these quarantine/ isolation facilities were handled in your opinion and our experience would this raise a red flag with FEMA in terms of reimbursement?"

Joshua Tenorio, lieutenant governor of Guam: "Sure, yeah of course they have to.. any transaction any large transaction it should…it's not necessarily a red flag. But everything should be scrutinized  even the best procurements have to go through  the scrutiny and make sure they're in compliance and only then will be get paid. For sure, this one, I think the definitely on all fronts all the details of this procurement certainly will have to be reviewed."

And that's something the committee chair on procurement, Senator Sabina Perez plans on doing by holding an oversight. On Sunday she confirms she along with her democrat colleagues met over zoom with the governor, Attorney Hyun and the governor's policy advisor Carlo Branch and acting Chief of Staff Jon Junior Calvo.

"What I could say? We have procurement. Yeah, it doesn't follow procurement policy," said Senator Perez.

And there's the question of Linda Unpingco Denorcey's signature on a document dated March 18 designating the PacStar for use as a quarantine isolation facility or non-congregate shelter. Denorcey apparently says this was news to her. In a response to KUAM, she wrote, "I want to make it clear that I have nothing to do with quarantine properties and quarantine hotel negotiations.  Yes, I recognize my signature, but it was an electronic signature and I don't recognize this document because I never seen it before."

Senator Perez further said, "That's' fraud using somebody's signature is definitely issue of fraud and that doesn't pass for sure."

"Your question was what do I think about Linda's comments," speculated Lieutenant Governor Tenorio. "I would stand behind her comments - she is the one knows is the only one who can give her approval of using her signature and her authority."

As for comment on procurement for quarantine isolation facilities Attorney General Leevin Camacho responded to KUAM via WhatsApp, "We have advised our client and given recommendations, but the OAG has not reviewed a contract as to form and legality."

FEMA in the meantime says GovGuam will need to maintain tracking mechanisms to provide sufficient data and documentation to establish the eligibility of reimbursement. This includes the need for emergency non-congregate sheltering of each individual, length of stay, number of meals and other service provided.

According to FEMA spokesperson Frank Mansell as with any activity lack of sufficient support documentation may result in the federal agency determining that some or all of GovGuam's claimed costs are ineligible.